Boeing Whistleblower Exposes Safety Threats at the Company

A Boeing whistleblower revealed that the company resorted to threats to silence him and other engineers who raised safety concerns about the production of widebody airplanes.

Verbal and Physical Threats

During a Senate hearing, Sam Salehpour, a veteran Boeing engineer turned whistleblower, disclosed that he faced verbal and physical threats after pointing out safety lapses in the production of at least 1,400 widebody planes.

Ignoring Safety Concerns

Salehpour mentioned that a Boeing quality manager instructed him not to document concerns or inform experts about gaps on the fuselage of hundreds of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, implying that he should keep quiet instead.

Retaliation and Threats

Despite Boeing denying any safety issues in its 787 planes, Salehpour detailed instances of retaliation, such as exclusion from meetings, department transfers, and personal threats. He even presented evidence of sabotage to his car tire, indicating potential dangers to his physical safety.

Culture of Fear

Salehpour highlighted a pervasive culture at Boeing that prioritizes schedules over safety, leading to engineers being coerced into overlooking quality concerns and facing repercussions for speaking up.

Boeing's Response

Following Salehpour's whistleblower complaint becoming public, Boeing defended its widebody planes, emphasizing its rigorous testing and analysis to ensure the aircraft's long-term safety and quality. The company reassured that the reported issues would not impact the expected lifespan of the 787 fuselages.

With Salehpour's brave stance, shedding light on safety threats, Boeing faces scrutiny over its practices and commitment to prioritizing safety in aircraft production.

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By: trains@insider.com (Taylor Rains)
Title: Boeing Whistleblower Exposes Safety Threats at the Company
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/boeing-whistleblower-said-was-threatened-to-keep-quiet-about-safety-2024-4
Published Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 19:50:50 +0000