Boeing, one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers, faced intense scrutiny today as a whistleblower came forward with alarming claims about the safety of their planes. Sam Salehpour, a quality engineer at Boeing, testified before a US Senate subcommittee, alleging that the 787 Dreamliner model is unsafe to operate.
During his testimony, Salehpour revealed that his boss had threatened him after he raised concerns about safety issues with the 787 Dreamliner. He stated, “My boss said, ‘I would have killed someone who said what you said in the meeting.’ This is not safety culture when you get threatened by bringing issues of safety concerns.”
The Senate held two hearings today related to Boeing, with the first featuring testimony from aviation safety experts and the second focusing on Salehpour’s claims. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun was notably absent from the proceedings.
These hearings come in the wake of a series of safety incidents involving Boeing planes, including a door plug falling off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max aircraft at 16,000 feet in January. While no one was injured, the incident raised serious concerns about the safety protocols in place.
As Salehpour’s testimony continues to unfold, the aviation industry and the public are left questioning the safety measures in place at Boeing and the potential risks associated with flying on their aircraft. The outcome of these hearings could have far-reaching implications for the future of aviation safety.