Boeing Accused of Hiding Faulty Parts for New 737 Planes

A whistleblower complaint has surfaced, accusing Boeing of hiding defective parts from federal regulators and subsequently losing track of them. These parts, which may have been used in new planes, were allegedly concealed by the aerospace firm, adding to a series of manufacturing-related accusations this year. The company’s CEO is already under scrutiny over flight safety concerns.

Sam Mohawk, a quality assurance inspector at Boeing’s Renton, Washington facility, claims that the company intentionally hid defective parts from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors. These parts were meant for new 737 planes, but some were improperly stored outdoors before being relocated to an unspecified location prior to an FAA inspection in June 2023, according to Mohawk and a Senate subcommittee investigation.

Mohawk further alleges that some of these defective parts, identifiable by red tags or red paint, were actually installed in new planes, while others were lost entirely. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who released the committee’s report, stated that Mohawk was instructed by his supervisors to delete records indicating the faulty nature of these parts before inspections.

Boeing has responded, saying it is reviewing the allegations after receiving the complaint on Monday evening.

Looking ahead, Boeing’s CEO, David Calhoun, is expected to testify before a Senate committee chaired by Blumenthal, discussing the company’s plans to address its manufacturing issues. In prepared remarks, Calhoun acknowledges that Boeing’s culture is not without flaws.

Boeing has come under increased scrutiny since a metal door plug detached from an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 in January. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that several critical bolts were missing, indicating that the plane had been flying for months without them. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker recently stated that the agency has “multiple active investigations” into Boeing, including reports from whistleblowers. Whitaker also admitted that the FAA’s oversight of Boeing had been “too hands-off” prior to the Alaska Airlines incident. Calhoun has taken responsibility for Boeing’s manufacturing problems, stating earlier this year that the company is “accountable for what happened” during the Alaska Airlines incident.

In a separate development, Boeing announced last week that it was inspecting undelivered 787 Dreamliner aircraft due to a quality issue. Inspections revealed that hundreds of fasteners had been incorrectly installed. Boeing assured that this issue would not affect flight safety or deliveries. The FAA is also investigating claims from Boeing that some employees falsified inspections for certain 787 Dreamliners. Boeing stated that the skipped inspections did not pose a safety risk.