'there Were Parts Issues': Insider Claims Boeing Took Shortcuts That Risked Lives In Air

The Air India Dreamliner clang successful Ahmedabad that killed 241 group has renewed scrutiny of Boeing’s manufacturing standards, arsenic whistleblowers pass of systemic failures and unsafe practices wrong nan U.S. aviation giant.

Ed Pierson, a erstwhile elder head astatine Boeing and now a salient whistleblower, was quoted successful an NDTV study that aggregate indicators pointed to “chaotic and vulnerable manufacturing” wrong nan company. 

“We were rushing to build planes, labor were nether unit to do overtime,” Pierson said. “There were parts issues, craft systems issues, functional strategy testing and electrical strategy testing, successful particular.”

Pierson's informing comes days aft Air India’s AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, collapsed soon aft takeoff from Ahmedabad connected June 12, sidesplitting 241 of nan 242 onboard. 

The calamity has brought renewed attraction to Boeing’s information culture, already nether occurrence successful nan U.S.

Sam Salehpour, different Boeing whistleblower, antecedently testified earlier Congress connected April 17, 2024, alleging improper manufacturing practices, including workers physically forcing parts into place. 

“During his testimony… Salehpour shared startling details, including claims that labor were forcing parts to fresh together by jumping connected them,” Pierson said.

Salehpour besides alleged that he faced retaliation for speaking up. Last year, he told lawmakers he had been “put done hell” for flagging information issues. When asked whether Salehpour’s concerns could subordinate to nan Air India crash, Pierson responded: “It is possible… Apparently nan planes were being built for illustration that for a agelong time.”

Boeing has rejected nan claims by some whistleblowers, stating that nan Dreamliner has passed 150,000 information checks and audits. The institution besides denied retaliating against employees.

Indian aviation authorities person launched an investigation into nan crash. The aircraft’s achromatic container has been recovered, and its formation information and cockpit recordings are nether analysis. A high-level committee has been group up to reappraisal information protocols and urge reforms.

As scrutiny intensifies, whistleblowers opportunity nan guidelines problem lies deeper than 1 crash—it’s a civilization of velocity complete safety.

Published on: Jun 15, 2025 8:50 AM IST