Boeing Faces Fresh Investigation After Admitting to Falsifying 787 Dreamliner Inspection Records

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — The saga of Boeing's troubled safety practices took a darker turn as the company admitted to falsifying inspection records related to its 787 Dreamliner. This revelation came on the heels of a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigation into whether Boeing falsified records about the inspections, specifically regarding the bonding and grounding of wing-to-fuselage joins in certain 787 Dreamliners.

The FAA confirmed details of its probe after Boeing voluntarily disclosed in April that it might not have completed the required inspections. "The FAA is investigating whether Boeing completed the inspections and whether company employees may have falsified aircraft records," the agency said in a statement. The FAA underscored its commitment to taking necessary actions to ensure passenger safety as the investigation progresses.

Boeing has admitted that records were indeed falsified, with Scott Stocker, vice president and general manager of the 787 program, confirming the issue. In a statement initially shared internally and later obtained by Gizmodo, Stocker explained that a Boeing employee noticed irregularities in a required conformance test and reported them to management. "We quickly reviewed the matter and learned that several people had been violating Company policies by not performing a required test but recording the work as having been completed," Stocker said. He emphasized Boeing's "zero tolerance for not following processes designed to ensure quality and safety."

Despite these serious breaches, Boeing's engineering team assessed that this misconduct did not immediately threaten flight safety. The company has since taken corrective actions and informed regulatory authorities about the issue.

The FAA's investigation adds to the numerous federal probes and congressional scrutiny that Boeing has faced recently, following a series of incidents that raised serious questions about its safety practices. The company's public image has further been marred by conspiracy theories after the deaths of multiple whistleblowers who raised concerns about safety issues at Boeing. John Barnett, a former Boeing quality control engineer, died in March under suspicious circumstances while testifying against the company. Similarly, Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, died amid a legal battle with the company.

Boeing's commitment to safety has been called into question, especially following a series of mishaps, including an Alaska Airlines flight losing part of its hull due to an alleged manufacturing error. These latest revelations have only deepened concerns about the aerospace giant's adherence to safety protocols, prompting calls for greater transparency and accountability in its operations.