Whistleblower flagged flaws in Boeing 787s sent to Air India a decade ago: Report
While these claims are not independently verified, and there is currently no official link between them and the crash of AI171, they have nonetheless raised questions about Boeing's oversight and quality control processes over the years.advertisementIndiaToday.in has reached out to Boeing for comments but is yet to receive a response.The Dreamliner involved in the Ahmedabad crash was delivered to Air India in January 2014 from Boeing's Everett, Washington facility. However, The American Prospect notes that parts of the fuselage used in that aircraft were produced in Charleston—the same site where Kitchens and others allege quality concerns were raised.The report also points to broader concerns raised by engineers and former employees regarding Boeing's use of composite fiber airframes, which some critics say may conceal long-term structural flaws. According to The American Prospect, whistleblowers have claimed that pressure to meet production targets at the Charleston plant sometimes led to overlooking nonconformities and installing substandard parts.In one account cited by the publication, Kitchens said she once questioned a superior about safety issues on planes built at the facility. She recalled being told: 'None of these planes are staying in America. They are all going overseas.'The same report references earlier concerns voiced by John Barnett, another former quality manager at Charleston who died last year. Barnett had warned that flaws introduced during the manufacturing process might not reveal themselves until many years later. While there is no official confirmation connecting these claims to the AI171 tragedy, the timeline is drawing renewed attention in light of the crash.Meanwhile, the cause of the June 12 crash is still under investigation. Preliminary information indicates that the aircraft climbed only 625 feet before plummeting, with the pilot radioing 'thrust not achieved' in a weak transmission moments before impact, as per sources.Tune InMust Watch
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India.com
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Time of India
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