Boeing engineer reports safety concerns with 787 Dreamliner, stock price drops over 2%
Boeing engineer reported potential safety hazards in the 787 Dreamliner, causing Boeing's stock price to drop by over 2%. The report pointed out that improper aircraft connections could weaken structural integrity, and there were errors in maintenance and testing methods. In addition, over 1000 aircraft have missing parts, facing the risk of premature end of service life. Boeing responded by stating that a thorough analysis is underway, and engineers are addressing maintenance requirements, with FAA supervision. This news further intensified market concerns about the quality of Boeing products
A whistleblower's report from a Boeing engineer directly caused the market to lose confidence in Boeing again.
According to media reports on the early morning of April 10th Beijing time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States is investigating a complaint from an engineer regarding safety issues with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The Boeing employee involved in the manufacturing of this aircraft alleges that certain parts of the 787 model are improperly connected, which could weaken the structural integrity of the aircraft over time. The whistleblower also claims that the maintenance work and testing methods are incorrect.
Sam Salehpour, the whistleblower's attorney, pointed out in the documents submitted to the FAA that Boeing has shown "significant negligence" in maintaining the 787 passenger planes, taking shortcuts to speed up assembly and ignoring safety risks. Additionally, over 1000 787 passenger planes are at risk of premature end of service life due to missing components during the production process.
Following the release of this news, Boeing's stock price fell by over 2.5%, hitting a daily low of $176.77 and dropping to the lowest point in five months. Year-to-date, Boeing's stock price has fallen by 31%, ranking at the bottom of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
In response, Boeing stated, "The allegations regarding the structural integrity of the 787 are inaccurate and do not represent Boeing's comprehensive efforts to ensure the quality and long-term safety of the aircraft. Engineers are conducting thorough analysis to ensure any long-term inspection and maintenance requirements, and the FAA is also supervising."
It is reported that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the company's most advanced model, with a fuselage made of large composite materials barrels. However, in the early 21st century, accidents during the assembly process, especially improper connections in the carbon fiber frame, led to a halt in the delivery of this model for over two years. After a series of production improvements were implemented and approved by the FAA to ensure the aircraft met safety standards, the delivery of the 787 Dreamliner resumed in 2022.
According to the whistleblower's report, there have been issues of missing components during the production of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, affecting potentially over 1000 aircraft. These omissions could lead to "significant fatigue" in critical components of the aircraft, especially at the joints of the large fuselage barrels.
Boeing denies these claims and asserts that based on analysis and future inspections, they are confident that the 787 aircraft will maintain its strength, durability, service life, and can safely operate for over 30 years