(NationRise.com) – Jumbo jet manufacturer Boeing is facing even more scrutiny as another whistleblower raises dire safety concerns.
Sam Salehpour, who works as an engineer for the company, said he worked on the 787 Dreamliner, a jet that Boeing claims is “the best-selling passenger widebody.” The plane offers more passenger space and improved fuel efficiency. It’s marketed as a jet that will improve profitability and the overall flying experience.
However, Salehpour says there is a darker side to the hype of comfort and profitability. He said the pieces used to assemble the fuselage, all of which come from different sources, don’t quite fit together the way they should safely. The fuselage is the primary segment of an airplane that holds the people and cargo.
Salehpour claims Boeing is intentionally using dangerous shortcuts during production of the 787 that will likely reduce its lifespan significantly. He also said the manufacturer deliberately ignored important safety issues in his complaint with the FAA. He also told the agency that he has worked with Boeing for over a decade.
Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, lawyers who are representing Salehpour, said in a statement that he did everything he could to raise awareness of the safety concerns among Boeing leadership. However, they chose to prioritize a fast release while ignoring well-documented concerns.
A spokesperson from Boeing released a statement claiming that changes the company has implemented in its manufacturing process did not cause the problems being raised by Salehpour. Instead, they claimed to continuously improve their processes, resulting in higher quality. Boeing also claimed Salehpour’s claims are “inaccurate.”
Salehpour is the second Boeing whistleblower to express concerns this year. John Barnett, who spent three decades working for the company before retiring in 2017, began leaking evidence of dangerous practices as part of a lawsuit against the manufacturer. However, he was found dead in his truck just days after filing the lawsuit.
Concerns have been raised about Boeing passenger jets after a 737’s fuselage experienced a midair blowout on January 5th, exposing passengers to a gaping hole as the plane flew at 16,000 feet. Three passengers suffered minor injuries.
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