FAA Probes Boeing for 787 Inspection Issues

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into Boeing following the company's disclosure that required inspections may not have been completed during the assembly of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

According to a statement released on May 6, 2024, the FAA confirmed Boeing's voluntary disclosure in April regarding potential issues with inspections of connection and ground connection points where wings join the fuselage on 787 aircrafts. The FAA is now scrutinizing whether these inspections were indeed carried out and whether Boeing employees might have falsified procedure  records.

Boeing's Vice President of the 787 program, Scott Stoker, addressed the matter in a memo to employees, acknowledging the concern, stating that engineers had assessed the situation and determined, internally, that it did not pose an immediate flight safety hazard.

Stoker revealed that the violation came to light thanks to a whistleblower at Boeing's South Carolina facilities, who reported irregularities in a required conformity test on the wing body joint. Subsequent investigations uncovered more instances where employees had failed to conduct mandated tests yet falsely documented completion.

In response, Boeing has initiated rapid corrective actions involving multiple employees. Despite the ongoing investigation, the company maintains that the missed inspections do not present an immediate safety risk for aircraft in service. Boeing stressed that it later proactively informed regulators of the issue.

This scrutiny from the FAA follows a series of safety concerns surrounding Boeing, including a midair incident involving a 737 Max jet operated by Alaska Airlines earlier this year. The incident triggered multiple federal investigations and a leadership overhaul at Boeing.