New Boeing Whistleblower Warns of Potentially 'Devastating Consequences' From Plane Flaws
Another day, another Boeing whistleblower.
Another day, another Boeing whistleblower.
Richard Cuevas, described by his lawyers as an experienced mechanic and a 40-year veteran of the airline industry, used to work for Strom, a contractor with Spirit, which is Boeing’s primary parts supplier. Cuevas says that during his time with the company, he saw “critical drilling and sealant issues†on some of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft that he worked on. Specifically, what are called fastener holes located in the plane’s forward pressure bulkheadâ€â€the likes of which help different parts of an aircraft fit togetherâ€â€weren’t being drilled to the correct specification, he says, and were slightly larger than they were supposed to be. Those issues could have potentially led to “devastating consequences,†he says, including the “compromise [of] power and air pressure on the planes.â€Â
prosecutors had recommended to top Justice Department officials that criminal charges be brought against Boeing.
Suggested ReadingJustice Department to Criminally Charge Boeing for Breaching 737 Max Settlement: ReportsApple Rumored to Be Working on AirPods With Built-in CamerasOur Best Look Yet at Deadpool & Wolverine's Supervillain, and a Familiar FriendFlorida Family Takes NASA to Court Over Home Damaged by Space Trash CCShare SubtitlesOffEnglishJustice Department to Criminally Charge Boeing for Breaching 737 Max Settlement: ReportsApple Rumored to Be Working on AirPods With Built-in CamerasOur Best Look Yet at Deadpool & Wolverine's Supervillain, and a Familiar FriendFlorida Family Takes NASA to Court Over Home Damaged by Space Trash CCShare SubtitlesOffEnglishRelated Content“Our client witnessed critical issues with the forward pressure bulkhead assembly on multiple planes that deviated from Boeing’s specifications,†said Cuevas’ attorneys. “He recognized the substandard work and expressed concern about his safety concerns, but Spirit and Boeing failed to stop the faulty manufacturing processes. Mr. Cuevas was fired when his manager found out that an employee complained about these issues.â€ÂAdvertisementGizmodo reached out to Boeing for comment on this story and will update it if the company responds.Advertisement“A subcontractor’s employee previously reported concerns to us that we thoroughly investigated as we take seriously any safety-related matter,†Boeing told CNN. “Engineering analysis determined that the issues raised did not present a safety concern and were addressed.â€ÂBoeing has faced growing scrutiny ever since recently said that the company’s safety issues represent a lapse of a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement related to reported that U.S. prosecutors had recommended to top Justice Department officials that criminal charges be brought against Boeing.
Based on reporting by gizmodo.com.
