Xinhua Finance and Economics, Beijing, June 28 (Ocean) - Another whistleblower came forward on the 26th to identify him, who was retaliated for reporting possible safety issues during the manufacturing process of the US Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The mechanic, named Richard Quivas, filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration through a lawyer on the same day, claiming that he was suddenly fired in March of this year for exposing problems in the manufacturing process of the front pressure resistant bulkhead of the 787 aircraft.
The pressure resistant bulkhead is one of the important components of the aircraft fuselage, which plays a crucial role in controlling the pressure on the aircraft during flight and even ensuring the integrity of the fuselage structure.
Quivas was assigned by Strom Airways to work as a mechanical engineer at Boeing's airframe supplier, MobileJet Systems. He claimed to have witnessed firsthand in 2023 at his factory in Wichita, Kansas, where he saw workers drilling holes slightly larger than Boeing's standard size to quickly remove paint from the edges of some fastener holes on the front pressure resistant bulkhead. Kuiwas believes that this may damage the aircraft's power and air pressure systems, posing a serious safety risk to passengers.
Kuiwas claimed to have seen the three planes he was involved in building have the aforementioned issues and is confident that at least 10 to 12 planes have been affected.
Kuiwas stated that he reported this matter to Boeing in October 2023, stating that it was inevitable that Brilliance would change the size of fastener holes without Boeing's permission. Boeing launched an investigation in the same month and informed that there was a report from someone who was bound to be sharp. Afterwards, Kuiwas heard his colleagues discussing, "Some of us have reported it.". The law firm he entrusted pointed out that after learning of the whistleblowing, the manager in charge of Quevas suspected Quevas and dismissed him in March of this year.
Kuevas and his lawyers pointed out that Boeing and Mobius failed to prevent the "substandard manufacturing and maintenance process" they witnessed, and the statements made by the two companies regarding the safety of the 787 aircraft to the public and investors were considered "fraudulent".
Boeing responded that it does not intervene in the personnel decisions of subcontractors. After conducting a thorough investigation, Boeing determined that the Kuivas report did not constitute a safety hazard and has been resolved. Boeing is also evaluating the complaint submitted by Quavas on the 26th, stating that it will thoroughly investigate any new allegations. The company's leadership is aware of the relevant allegations and is investigating them, and welcomes all employees with concerns to step forward.
The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States stated in a related statement, "We strongly encourage anyone with safety concerns to report, and we will thoroughly investigate them all." The Federal Aviation Administration has received 126 reports of "whistleblowers" related to Boeing so far this year, of which 11 were received last year.
According to CNN, there has been a significant increase in whistleblowers reporting after the Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft experienced an air door stopper detachment accident in January this year. According to Agence France Presse, the law firm commissioned by Quivas also represents another whistleblower, Boeing quality engineer Sam Salepur, in legal affairs. Salipur pointed out that Boeing had improper practices in aircraft manufacturing, leading to the risk of "premature material fatigue" in a large number of 787 and 777 aircraft currently in service.
The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States has conducted multiple investigations into Boeing and stated that a previous 6-week production audit exposed numerous issues in Boeing's production process. The Federal Aviation Administration has tasked a panel of experts to review Boeing's safety management procedures for two fatal air accidents in 2018 and 2019. The expert group report pointed out that there is a "decoupling" between Boeing management and employees in terms of corporate safety culture.
The US Department of Justice has also determined that Boeing's continued exposure to quality and safety issues has violated the suspension of prosecution agreement reached with Boeing in 2021 regarding two fatal air accidents, and will decide whether to bring criminal charges against Boeing before July 7th.