Boeing facing fresh probe after admitting it may not have inspected 787s properly

Boeing demonstrated the 787-8 with a near vertical take-off (Image: UK Aviation Media)
Boeing demonstrated the 787-8 with a near vertical take-off (Image: UK Aviation Media)

US plane maker Boeing is facing fresh probes from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after it admitted it may have not inspected Boeing 787 Dreamliners properly.

The investigation will look at whether staff falsified records about aircraft rolling off the production 787 production line forcing Boeing to reinspect all current 787s in production and initiate an action plan to deal with the aircraft it has already delivered.

The admission is yet another blow to the plane makers reputation which has been dogged with quality and production problems across its 737 Max and 787 product line.

The FAA said that Boeing had come forward voluntarily saying that it “may not have completed inspections” particular on the sections where the wings join the fuselage and the associated electrical safeguards on the joint.

A spokesperson for the FAA said: “The FAA is investigating whether Boeing completed the inspections and whether company employees may have falsified aircraft records,” adding “As the investigation continues, the FAA will take any necessary action – as always – to ensure the safety of the flying public.”

The story was broken by the Wall Street Journal who saw an internal Boeing email which described the situation as misconduct but said it didn’t create an “immediate safety of flight issue”.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is in service in the UK with several airlines including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Tui Airways UK.

Boeing has not commented on the issue.

About Nick Harding 2035 Articles
Nick is the senior reporter and editor at UK Aviation News as well as working freelance elsewhere. He has his finger firmly on the pulse on Aviation, not only in the UK but worldwide. Nick has been asked to speak in a professional capacity on LBC, Heart and other broadcast networks.

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