The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a new investigation into Boeing after the company admitted to potential lapses in inspecting its 787 Dreamliner planes. The FAA will be looking into whether Boeing staff falsified records related to the inspections.
Boeing has stated that it is re-inspecting all 787 jets still on the manufacturing line and will be developing an “action plan” to address concerns about planes already in service. The company’s head of the Boeing 787 program, Scott Stocker, acknowledged that several employees had violated company policies by not performing required tests but recording the work as completed.
This latest issue comes on the heels of a series of problems for Boeing, including an incident in January where an emergency exit door blew off a new 737 Max 9 plane shortly after take-off. This led to the temporary grounding of dozens of planes and increased regulatory scrutiny on the company.
In response to these challenges, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun announced his plans to step down by the end of the year. The company has also been working to reform its corporate culture to encourage employees to speak out about potential problems, with a significant increase in reports from employees since January.
The FAA has assured the public that it will take any necessary action to ensure the safety of the flying public as the investigation into Boeing’s inspection practices continues.