BOEING CRISIS AS MORE THAN 100 WHISTLEBLOWERS CONTACT FAA
More than a hundred Boeing whistleblowers have contacted the U.S. aviation watchdog since the start of the year, Newsweek can reveal.
Official figures show that the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) whistleblowing hotline has seen a huge surge of calls from workers concerned about safety problems.
Since January the watchdog saw a total of 126 reports, via various channels, from workers concerned about safety problems. In 2023, there were just 11.
The embattled plane manufacturer's recent woes began when the door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 mid-flight in January. Since then, reports have snowballed regarding the company's transparency, manufacturing practices, and allegedly lacklustre safety measures.
The FAA is the U.S. agency tasked with regulating the manufacturing, operation, and maintenance of aircraft.
After a visit from FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker to a Boeing factory earlier in the year, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun agreed to share details of the hotline with all Boeing employees.
The FAA told Newsweek that the number of Boeing employees coming forward was a "sign of a healthy culture".
However the sharp rise in reports since 2023 sheds new light on the extent of Boeings problems.
Richard Cuevas, a former employee for Boeing and Spirit Aerosystems, previously told Newsweek that what he and other whistleblowers had so far revealed about the company was "the tip of the iceberg."
Cuevas was unexpectedly fired by Spirit after raising safety concerns over the construction of bulkheads in Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, and believes his dismissal was an act of retaliation for speaking up.
Cuevas remains worried that his criticism of Boeing and Spirit will get him "taken out," and made reference to the sudden deaths of Spirit and Boeing whistleblowers Joshua Dean and John Barnett.
Cuevas's lawyers, Katz Banks Kumin, have urged the FAA to investigate the safety issues he observed in the manufacturing of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
Katz Banks Kumin also represent Sam Salehpour, another former Boeing employee, who called on the company to ground its entire fleet of Dreamliners over safety concerns.
When contacted, Boeing referred Newsweek to the comments made by Dave Calhoun during his Senate testimony in June.
In his prepared remarks, Calhoun said: "We're committed to making sure every employee feels empowered to speak up if they see a problem. We also have strict policies that prohibit retaliation against employees who come forward."
Newsweek also spoke to Jon Holden, president of the 751 District for the International Association of Machinists, Boeing's largest union which represents more than 32,000 aerospace workers.
Holden said that numerous whistleblowers had complained to the FAA over Boeing's attempt to cut staff and reduce inspections in an effort to "speed up the rate" at which planes went out the door.
"There is massive pressure that's put on all through the manufacturing system from management to get the work done and to move it down the production line," he added.
Holden said the principles that have guided Boeing over the last decade were "short term decisions based on short term gains for the stock price," which has taken its toll on the quality of its aircraft.
"We care deeply about the quality of the airplane, and the company has done some things with the last five years or longer to try and speed up the rate, which ultimately, cuts cost, cuts the amount of people necessary," Holden said. "That has undermined the quality management system."
Holden's union is currently in contract negotiations with Boeing, and is attempting to secure a 40% pay rise alongside a 50-year guarantee of work security for its members.
Despite accusations that the company "retaliates" against those who voice their concerns, the mounting number of whistleblowers shows that Boeing employees are increasingly willing to sound the alarm over the safety of its planes.
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article or Boeing? Contact [email protected].
2024-07-04T11:24:00Z dg43tfdfdgfd
