Boeing to Face Senate Scrutiny Amid Safety Concerns, Whistleblower Allegations

Since the midair door plug blowout incident on January 5, Boeing’s reputation has taken a hit as the manufacturer has been plagued with whistleblower allegations, management shake-ups, and continual production delays.

Panel members Javier de Luis, an aeronautics expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tracy Dillinger, a NASA expert on safety culture, and Najmedin Meshkati, a professor and expert on aviation safety, will testify during the April 17 hearing. The FAA convened the panel in early 2023 with the intention of Boeing to review its report, address the panel’s recommendations, and come up with an action plan within six months.

In addition to Wednesday’s hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations will hear testimony from whistleblower Sam Salehpour, a company engineer alleging that Boeing dismissed safety concerns related to its production of 787 and 777 jets.

Salehpour’s concerns made headlines after being featured in a New York Times article earlier this week where he accused the company of cutting corners in the assembly process.

According to USA Today, Boeing has dismissed Salehpour’s claims as “inaccurate,” emphasizing that they do not reflect the comprehensive efforts Boeing has undertaken to ensure the quality and long-term safety of its aircraft.

Boeing CEO David Calhoun was also invited to testify, but it is unclear if he will attend.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.