FAA Launches Investigation into Boeing Over Possible Falsified 787 Inspection Records

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened a new investigation into Boeing following the aerospace giant’s admission last month that it may have skipped mandatory inspections on some of its newly manufactured 787 planes. The FAA’s probe will determine whether the required inspections were actually completed and if there were any instances of falsification of aircraft records by Boeing employees.

In response to these concerns, Boeing is now re-inspecting all 787 airplanes that are still in the production process. Additionally, the company is required to devise a comprehensive plan to address potential issues in the already delivered fleet. “The FAA will take any necessary action to ensure the safety of the flying public as the investigation progresses,” an FAA statement explained.

The issue came to light when a whistleblower reported irregularities during a conformance test that assesses how the wings are attached to the fuselage body. A memo from Scott Stocker, the leader of the 787 program, to Boeing employees detailed the discovery. “After a quick review, we found that several employees had bypassed a crucial test but falsely recorded it as completed. We have since reported our findings to our regulator and are taking decisive corrective measures with the involved parties,” the memo stated.

Despite the testing lapse, Boeing’s engineering teams believe that this oversight does not compromise the flight safety of the aircraft. Nevertheless, this situation is expected to cause further delays in production as the necessary tests are performed on planes that missed them initially.

This incident adds to a challenging year for Boeing, which has faced increased regulatory scrutiny and public concern following a series of safety issues, including a fuselage failure on a 737 Max during a flight operated by Alaska Airlines earlier in the year. In light of these incidents, Alaska Airlines has received significant compensation from Boeing, totaling $162 million in cash and an additional $61 million in credits for future aircraft purchases.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, usatoday.com