The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating whether Boeing employees falsified inspection records for the 787 Dreamliner. Boeing voluntarily informed officials that required inspections may not have been completed, specifically regarding bonding and grounding where the wings join the fuselage on certain Dreamliner airplanes.
Boeing’s 787 program head, Scott Stocker, stated that an employee identified irregularities and reported them to a supervisor. Investigations found that employees had not been performing required tests, but falsely recorded them as completed. Boeing has notified regulators and is taking corrective actions swiftly.
While Boeing claims the misconduct did not compromise immediate flight safety, the issue will impact operations and require tests to be conducted out of sequence. The company emphasizes the importance of compliance with policies and procedures and encourages employees to report any suspicious activities.
The investigation follows allegations of production flaws made by a whistleblower at a Senate committee hearing. Boeing’s safety record has come under scrutiny following previous incidents, such as a door panel blowout on a Boeing 737 Max in January. The FAA has restricted Boeing from expanding 737 MAX production and mandated a plan to address quality-control issues within 90 days, following two fatal crashes involving the model in 2018-2019.