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Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Concerns about the Dreamliner’s build quality had already been made public in early 2024.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, including its 787-8 variant, is a twin-engine, wide-body jet airliner designed for safe and efficient operation. (Representational image)
The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad has renewed scrutiny on Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner following whistleblower warnings that raised red flags about the aircraft’s structural integrity as recently as last year. Boeing said, in an official statement following the crash, “We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected.”
Ahmedabad Air India Flight Crash
The aircraft, bound for London Gatwick, crashed just minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, slamming into a medical college hostel and erupting into a massive fireball. This marks the first-ever fatal crash and hull loss involving a 787 Dreamliner, a model once hailed for its flawless safety record.
Read more: Ahmedabad Tragedy Marks First-Ever Crash Of Boeing 787 Dreamliner: What We Know
But concerns about the Dreamliner’s build quality had already been made public in early 2024, when Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour filed a formal whistleblower complaint with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as per CNN.
‘Risks Could Be Catastrophic’, Boeing Whistleblower Warned
In his complaint, Sam Salehpour alleged that Boeing had taken shortcuts during the production of both its 777 and 787 aircraft, including misaligned fuselage sections and microscopic gaps that were not being properly filled during assembly. He claimed these issues could result in structural fatigue, potentially shortening the aircraft’s lifespan or even causing a catastrophic failure over time.
“I literally saw people jumping on the pieces of the airplane to get them to align,” Sam Salehpour said during a press briefing in April 2024, adding, “That’s not how you build an airplane.”
While Boeing strongly disputed the allegations, stating that the claims were “inaccurate” and affirming its confidence in the safety and durability of the 787, the FAA confirmed it had launched an investigation into the matter. The agency said Sam Salehpour’s report revealed ongoing concerns that the FAA had thought were already resolved.
Past Problems, Present Consequences?
The 787 Dreamliner was already under the microscope long before the Ahmedabad crash. Between 2021 and 2022, Boeing and the FAA had paused deliveries of the aircraft due to quality control issues, including the same fuselage gaps flagged by Sam Salehpour. Boeing said at the time that it had improved its inspection and manufacturing processes, and deliveries later resumed.
However, Sam Salehpour’s whistleblower report suggested the problems had not been fully resolved and might still be affecting aircraft currently in operation.
A Disturbing Pattern Emerging For Boeing Planes?
The tragedy also deepens public concern about Boeing’s overall safety culture. The company is still recovering from its 737 MAX crisis, where two crashes- in 2018 and 2019- killed 346 people and were linked to a flawed automated flight control system. That scandal resulted in lawsuits, billions in penalties and a global grounding of the aircraft type.
While the Dreamliner had, until today, escaped that kind of scrutiny, the Ahmedabad crash changes that.
Sam Salehpour had earlier said, “I am doing this not because I want Boeing to fail, but because I want it to succeed—and prevent crashes from happening. But the truth is, Boeing can’t keep going the way it is.”
When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, “What is the purpose of journalism in society?”
When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, “What is the purpose of journalism in society?”
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