Boeing alerted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after uncovering that certain employees failed to conduct specific inspections on some 787 Dreamliners but falsely claimed to have completed them. These inspections are crucial for ensuring the proper bonding and grounding of fasteners connecting the wings to the fuselage, essential for protecting the aircraft against electrical currents like lightning strikes.
Approximately 450 aircraft, including around 60 still in Boeing’s production system, are potentially affected, according to a source familiar with the matter. The FAA has initiated a formal investigation and is overseeing the re-inspection of planes still in Boeing’s possession. Boeing engineers have assessed that there isn’t an immediate safety issue due to redundancies built into the 787 to mitigate risks like lightning strikes.
Boeing’s vice president and general manager of the 787 program, Scott Stocker, commended a Boeing South Carolina worker for reporting the irregularity. Stocker emphasized Boeing’s zero-tolerance policy for deviations from quality and safety procedures and assured that corrective actions are being taken.
This incident comes shortly after a Boeing quality engineer testified about concerns regarding the 787 Dreamliner’s production process, which were allegedly disregarded by management. Boeing is still gathering information about the situation, and the FAA has not yet determined if there’s a safety issue with the 787 or a deficiency in the production process.
