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| Whistleblower 'would not' put family on Boeing 787 jet | Whistleblower 'would not' put family on Boeing 787 jet |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Boeing is expected to face criticism at a US Senate hearing from a whistleblower who says he feared its planes could fall apart mid-air. | Boeing is expected to face criticism at a US Senate hearing from a whistleblower who says he feared its planes could fall apart mid-air. |
| Engineer Sam Salehpour told NBC News he had raised concerns about the 787 Dreamliner, which Boeing dismissed. | Engineer Sam Salehpour told NBC News he had raised concerns about the 787 Dreamliner, which Boeing dismissed. |
| The company is under scrutiny after a number of safety incidents, including a mid-air panel blow-out in January. | The company is under scrutiny after a number of safety incidents, including a mid-air panel blow-out in January. |
| But it has sought to defend its practices, and says it is co-operating with the Senate inquiry. | But it has sought to defend its practices, and says it is co-operating with the Senate inquiry. |
| LIVE COVERAGE: Boeing whistleblower testifies at US hearing | |
| Salehpour discussed the alleged safety issues with the 787 Dreamliner in an interview with NBC ahead of Wednesday's hearing. | Salehpour discussed the alleged safety issues with the 787 Dreamliner in an interview with NBC ahead of Wednesday's hearing. |
| He said he feared the plane could simply "drop to the ground" unless manufacturing issues were addressed. He referred to gaps between components that emerged during the plane's assembly. | He said he feared the plane could simply "drop to the ground" unless manufacturing issues were addressed. He referred to gaps between components that emerged during the plane's assembly. |
| Asked if he would put his own family on one of 787s, he responded: "Right now, I would not." | Asked if he would put his own family on one of 787s, he responded: "Right now, I would not." |
| The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating Salehpour's claims, which were first reported last week by the New York Times. | The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating Salehpour's claims, which were first reported last week by the New York Times. |
| Boeing, one of the world's two major producers of commercial planes, has again insisted its jets are safe, and disputed the engineer's assertions. | Boeing, one of the world's two major producers of commercial planes, has again insisted its jets are safe, and disputed the engineer's assertions. |
| It told NBC: "These claims about the structural integrity of the 787 are inaccurate. The issues raised have been subject to rigorous engineering examination under FAA oversight." | It told NBC: "These claims about the structural integrity of the 787 are inaccurate. The issues raised have been subject to rigorous engineering examination under FAA oversight." |
| At an earlier event on Monday, the company said 99% of gaps conformed to the standard, and that testing showed "zero fatigue". | At an earlier event on Monday, the company said 99% of gaps conformed to the standard, and that testing showed "zero fatigue". |
| Concerns also have been raised in recent years about the safety of Boeing's 737 Max jets. | Concerns also have been raised in recent years about the safety of Boeing's 737 Max jets. |
| In January, a 737 Max 9 was forced to return to its point of departure in Portland, Oregon, making an emergency landing after a door panel blew out in mid-air. | In January, a 737 Max 9 was forced to return to its point of departure in Portland, Oregon, making an emergency landing after a door panel blew out in mid-air. |
| Passengers escaped serious injury, but the incident led to thousands of flight cancellations and renewed scrutiny of Boeing - which previously had grounded the 737 Max 8 after deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019. | Passengers escaped serious injury, but the incident led to thousands of flight cancellations and renewed scrutiny of Boeing - which previously had grounded the 737 Max 8 after deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019. |
| Salehpour's allegations were labelled "deeply serious" by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who will chair Wednesday's hearing. | Salehpour's allegations were labelled "deeply serious" by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who will chair Wednesday's hearing. |
| Others expected to testify on Wednesday include a representative of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). | Others expected to testify on Wednesday include a representative of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). |
| Boeing representatives will not join them, but the firm says it is co-operating with proceedings by offering to provide "documents, testimony and technical briefings". | Boeing representatives will not join them, but the firm says it is co-operating with proceedings by offering to provide "documents, testimony and technical briefings". |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Boeing | Boeing |
| Aviation safety | Aviation safety |
| Air travel | Air travel |