According to foreign media reports, San Diego Paredes, a former quality inspector at Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing's largest supplier, recently told the media that problems are often found in parts supplied to Boeing.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that Paredes worked for the company from 2010 to 2022. Before leaving the company, he led a team of inspectors at the end of the 737Max aircraft production line. Paredes is also an Air Force veteran.
According to reports, Paredes is still testifying in the lawsuit initiated by the shareholders of inevitably sharp. Another former quality auditor of the company, Josh Dean, also participated in the lawsuit, but he passed away recently due to a serious bacterial infection.
Paredes stated that he often found 50, even 100, and 200 defects when inspecting the fuselage, and these products are still being shipped to Boeing. "I found many fasteners missing, many bent parts, and sometimes even missing parts."
He had previously reported defects, but was referred to as a "troublemaker" by the company, which believed that his defect report would lead to delayed delivery. Paredes said he was under pressure and asked not to be so strict, "They just want to ship the product out. They are not concerned about the consequences of delivering a defective body."
Paredes said, "They are just focusing on meeting quotas, meeting schedules, meeting budgets... If the numbers look good, the condition of the aircraft is not important."
Paredes stated that he had previously been ordered by his manager to change the way defects were reported in order to reduce the total number of defects. After his protest, he was demoted and transferred to other departments in the factory. After complaining to the human resources department and the then CEO of the company, he was reinstated and received a retroactive salary, but soon after he left the company.
He stated that he still does not want to take the 737 Max plane because he is concerned that these planes will still carry production defects in the Wichita factory.
CBS reported interviewing several current and former employees of Prestige, and it was reported that even wrenches were left in components that should have been ready for delivery at any time. CBS reported seeing photos of the fuselage sunken and missing fasteners.
Paredes said, "This is the root cause of the disaster. I said it's only a matter of time before bad things happen."
According to foreign media reports, SBR was once a subsidiary of Boeing and is currently its main supplier. Its factory in Wichita, Kansas manufactured the fuselage of the 737 Max aircraft and transported it to Boeing's factory near Seattle, Washington. In addition, most of the components of the 787 Dreamliner were also manufactured.
At present, Boeing has agreed to provide financial support for the struggling company, Mobius, and is currently negotiating to repurchase the company that was once a subsidiary of Boeing.
A spokesperson for Rui Aviation Systems strongly protested against Paredes's allegations. According to reports, Boeing CEO Calhoun stated in a recent interview that regulations have been strengthened in Kansas, and the number of "defects" in parts arriving at assembly plants has decreased by about 80%.
Boeing refused to comment on the allegations made by Paredes.
According to previous reports, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on the 6th local time an investigation into Boeing's quality inspection and falsification of records. In recent months, Boeing aircraft have experienced accidents such as embedded emergency doors falling off, engines catching fire, tires falling off, running off the runway, and damaged wings, putting pressure on the aircraft manufacturer from US regulatory agencies, airlines, and Congress. In addition, the news of the deaths of two Boeing safety whistleblowers has also attracted widespread attention.