In a recent development, federal air-safety regulators have initiated an investigation into Boeing following the disclosure that some inspections on 787 Dreamliners may have been skipped by the company’s employees. This revelation marks the latest in a series of quality issues at the aircraft manufacturer.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that Boeing notified the agency in April about possible lapses in completing required inspections related to the electrical safeguards of bonding and grounding where wings join the fuselage on certain aircraft.
The FAA stated that it is looking into “whether Boeing completed the inspections and whether company employees may have falsified aircraft records.” This scrutiny comes in the wake of the Jan. 5 midair blowout of a door plug on a 737 MAX jet operated by Alaska Airlines, prompting increased attention to Boeing’s production processes.
It remains unclear whether any 787 Dreamliners currently in operation would require removal from service for inspections. The FAA noted that Boeing is conducting re-inspections on all 787s in production and must devise a plan to address the in-service Dreamliner fleet.
Scott Stocker, Boeing’s 787 program chief, reassured in an internal message on April 29 that there is no immediate concern for currently operational Dreamliners. The company appears committed to addressing these issues promptly and ensuring the safety and reliability of its aircraft.
(Source: Seattle Times | WSJ | Bloomberg)
