Boeing 787 Dreamliner plant hit by claims of poor production
- 5 years ago
NORTH CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Poor production and oversight at a Boeing factory may compromise the safety of the company's 787 Dreamliner jets, current and ex-staff of the plant have told the New York Times.
Joseph Clayton, a technician at the plant, told the New York Times he frequently found debris close to the wiring underneath the cockpits.
The New York Times cites former Boeing employees as saying that tools and metal shavings have repeatedly been left inside the planes and close to electrical systems. One anonymous source told the paper that test flights have been performed with debris in the plane's engine and tail.
John Barnett, a former quality manager with Boeing said he noticed "clusters of metal slivers" hanging from wirings that direct flight control in several planes. He added that if the metal pieces were to go through the wires, it would be "catastrophic."
A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, told the New York Times that they had found those same metal slivers even though Boeing had said their planes did not contain such debris. He explained that these could cause electrical shortages and, potentially, a fire.
Ex-staff were pressured by the company to not report violations, according to the New York Times. The newspaper reports that workers were told to keep on building Dreamliner jets regardless of any issues raised.
Joseph Clayton, a technician at the plant, told the New York Times he frequently found debris close to the wiring underneath the cockpits.
The New York Times cites former Boeing employees as saying that tools and metal shavings have repeatedly been left inside the planes and close to electrical systems. One anonymous source told the paper that test flights have been performed with debris in the plane's engine and tail.
John Barnett, a former quality manager with Boeing said he noticed "clusters of metal slivers" hanging from wirings that direct flight control in several planes. He added that if the metal pieces were to go through the wires, it would be "catastrophic."
A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, told the New York Times that they had found those same metal slivers even though Boeing had said their planes did not contain such debris. He explained that these could cause electrical shortages and, potentially, a fire.
Ex-staff were pressured by the company to not report violations, according to the New York Times. The newspaper reports that workers were told to keep on building Dreamliner jets regardless of any issues raised.