FAA opens another investigation into Boeing

The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it is opening a new investigation into Boeing, this time related to the company’s inspections of the 787 Dreamliner and whether employees falsified records.

The U.S. plane maker told the agency in April that it may not have completed required inspections related to bonding and grounding at the points where the wings connect to the 787’s fuselage.

Boeing is re-examining 787 aircraft in its production system. The FAA is asking Boeing to also create a plan to address the problem in its operating fleet.

“As the investigation continues, the FAA will – as always – take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the flying public,” the FAA said in a statement.

A Boeing spokesman said no aircraft were required to be taken out of service for inspection. Scott Stocker, the head of the 787 program, told employees in an April 29 email that the engineering team had determined the problem “does not pose an immediate flight safety issue.”

“We immediately informed our regulator of our findings and, along with several teammates, are taking swift and serious corrective action,” Stocker said in the email, which was seen by Skift.

Stocker said the group learned that “several individuals violated company policy by failing to complete a required test.”

Boeing was also under investigation for the Alaska Airlines explosion incident involving the 737 Max 9. And a Boeing engineer claimed in March that the company took shortcuts when making the 787’s fuselages. The FAA is also currently investigating these claims.

787 in the spotlight

The 787 was in the spotlight after a Boeing engineer claimed he saw “people jumping on parts of the plane” to fill gaps in the fuselage. Boeing has also slowed production of the 787 due to a shortage of key parts. The slowdown in 787 production is unrelated to the whistleblower’s claims.

Boeing has repeatedly denied the whistleblower’s allegations. The company previously told Skift that the 787 had undergone extensive and rigorous testing.

“Under FAA oversight, we have carefully inspected and reconditioned aircraft and improved production quality to meet exacting standards measured in hundredths of an inch,” Boeing said in an April 17 statement. “We are completely confident in the safety and durability of the 787 Dreamliner.”

Performance of the aviation sector stock index since the beginning of the year

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