Boeing Purposely Hid Faulty Parts in 737 Max Planes, Whistleblower Claims

By Thea Felicity

Jun 18, 2024 11:27 AM EDT

US-ACCIDENT-AVIATION-BOEING
A Boeing 737 MAX 9 for Alaska Airlines is pictured along with other 737 aircraft at Renton Municipal Airport adjacent to Boeing's factory in Renton, Washington, on January 25, 2024. Alaska Airlines will start resuming service of its Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet late January 26, 2024, three weeks after an emergency landing prompted sweeping inspections of the aircraft, the company said on its website. The first trip will be flight 1146 from Seattle to San Diego, leaving at 2240 GMT and arriving at 0105 GMT on January 27.
(Photo : JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images)

Boeing is under renewed investigation after a whistleblower alleged the company concealed defective parts from regulators, potentially installing them in 737 Max planes. 

CNN shared that according to a quality assurance employee at Boeing's Renton, Washington plant, the company moved nonconforming parts out of sight and falsified records to evade Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) detection.

In response to these allegations, Boeing stated that it received the report from Congressional investigators and is currently reviewing the claims. The company emphasized its commitment to safety, encouraging employees to report concerns. 

However, CEO Dave Calhoun is expected to face intense scrutiny during his first congressional hearing, where he plans to apologize for recent safety lapses while addressing these new allegations.

READ MORE: Boeing Banned From Producing More 737 MAX Due to Safety Concerns

Boeing's US Senate Investigations

Ahead of the upcoming testimony of Calhoun in the sante, the US subcommittee on investigations, chaired by Senator Richard Blumenthal, will examine Boeing's safety culture. 

ABC News reported that Blumenthal's prepared remarks accusing Calhoun of prioritizing profits over safety, retaliating against employees who raised concerns.

In addition to CNN's new watchdog report, he noted that his committee had heard from a dozen whistleblowers. According to VCPost, there were allegations that Boeing and Airbus used counterfeit titanium in their planes, compromising the structural integration of their products.

Adding to Boeing's legal challenges, the FAA has also mandated safety improvements before allowing normal production to resume, which has impacted airlines and raised passenger fares. 

Boeing remains banned from producing more 737 Max, but further updates are anticipated after Calhoun's senate hearing.

READ NEXT: Boeing and Airbus Allegedly Used 'Counterfeit' Titanium, FAA Investigation Reveals

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