Former quality inspector at Spirit AeroSystems, Santiago Paredes, has made shocking allegations against Boeing’s largest supplier, claiming that plane bodies regularly left the factory with serious defects. Paredes, who worked at Spirit AeroSystems in Kansas, revealed that he found up to 200 defects on parts being prepared for shipping to Boeing. He was even nicknamed “showstopper” for slowing down production when he tried to address his concerns.
Spirit AeroSystems has strongly denied these allegations, stating that they are vigorously defending against Paredes’ claims. Paredes made these allegations in an exclusive interview with the BBC and CBS, detailing his experiences while working at the firm between 2010 and 2022.
The incident has prompted the US regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration, to launch an audit of production practices at both companies. Paredes claimed that he faced pressure to be less rigorous in his inspections and was often questioned for finding defects.
The lawsuit filed by disgruntled shareholders accuses Spirit of attempting to cover up quality failings, leading to financial losses when these issues were exposed. Boeing has agreed to provide financial support to Spirit and is in talks to buy back its former subsidiary.
Efforts are reportedly underway to address quality concerns at Spirit, with a significant reduction in the number of faults in parts leaving the Wichita factory. Paredes’ testimony sheds light on the challenges faced by quality inspectors and the potential risks associated with flawed fuselages.