Devendra Kumar
The US Senate conducted a pair of hearings on Wednesday, scrutinizing allegations of major safety failures at Boeing, the beleaguered aircraft manufacturer. At the center of the investigation is a recent crisis involving a door-plug panel blowing off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max jetliner during a flight in January. As part of its inquiry, the Senate Commerce Committee heard from a panel of experts, who identified significant flaws in Boeing’s safety culture.
According to Javier de Luis, a MIT aeronautics lecturer who testified before the Senate panel, Boeing’s approach to safety is flawed. De Luis drew from his conversations with Boeing workers, who expressed fear of reprisal and retaliation if they spoke out about safety concerns. “They hear ‘Safety is our number one priority,'” de Luis quoted workers as saying. “What they see is that’s only true as long as your production milestones are met, and at that point it’s ‘Push it out the door as fast as you can.'” De Luis’ testimony suggests that Boeing employees who raise safety concerns may face pressure and intimidation.
Another whistleblower, Sam Salehpour, a former Boeing quality engineer, alleged that the company is taking shortcuts in assembling 787 Dreamliners, leaving sections of the aircraft’s skin vulnerable to breaking apart. Salehpour claimed that Boeing is producing defective airplanes. Boeing has denied these allegations, stating that claims about the Dreamliner’s structural integrity are false. Two Boeing engineering executives disputed Salehpour’s allegations, insisting that there have been no findings of fatigue or cracking in the composite panels.
The Senate subcommittee has requested documents from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the safety of Boeing’s planes. FAA chief David Calhoun has said that Boeing is taking steps to improve its manufacturing quality and safety culture, but many are skeptical. Senator Tammy Duckworth stressed the importance of scrutinizing Boeing’s actions rather than just its words, stating, “The committee must look at what Boeing does, not just what it says it’s doing.” Despite Boeing’s assurances, the Senate committee is not convinced that the company is taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of its passengers.
Senator Ted Cruz, meanwhile, attempted to assuage public concerns about safety, stating that commercial travel remains the safest way to travel, despite the perception of danger. However, the recent crisis and allegations of systemic safety failures at Boeing suggest that Cruz’s words may be hollow. The Senate investigation is likely to continue, with the committee demanding greater transparency and accountability from Boeing. As the investigation unfolds, one thing is clear: the public’s trust in Boeing’s commitment to safety is firmly in question.