
Falsified Inspection Records: FAA Opens Investigation Against Boeing
Boeing is once again the focus of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigation after falsified inspection records were discovered at the company's 787 factories in Charleston, South Carolina. The latest chapter in Boeing's saga of problems and controversy began when employees at the 787 factories tampered with inspection records, as reported by the Seattle Times. The employees had skipped inspections involving proper bonding and electrical grounding at the 787's wing-to-fuselage joint. Boeing said it immediately informed regulators after the falsifications were uncovered. This revelation comes at a time when Boeing was already under pressure. The company has faced several challenges this year, including the FAA limiting the 737 MAX's production rate to monitor the manufacturing process. The Alaska Airlines incident, in which a door stopper was blown out of a Boeing 737 MAX 9, was a culmination of those problems. It is important to note that the current revelation is not related to recent claims made by Boeing whistleblowers. Individuals such as Josh Dean, formerly of Spirit AeroSystems, had raised concerns about the 737 MAX program before he was fired in April 2023. Another whistleblower, John Barnett, died in tragic circumstances in March. Recent events have once again put a spotlight on Boeing's internal processes and regulatory oversight. The FAA has announced that it will conduct a thorough investigation to ensure safety standards are met and confidence in Boeing's products is restored.