A subcontractor mechanic who worked on Boeing Co.’s 787 Dreamliner alleged he was retaliated against after raising concerns about work he observed on the plane, according to a statement from lawyers representing him as a whistleblower.
Richard Cuevas said he observed “substandard manufacturing and maintenance practices” on the 787’s forward pressure bulkhead — a dome-shaped part located in the nose of the jet that is critical to maintaining cabin pressure, according to a statement from the attorneys Debra Katz and Lisa Banks.
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In 2023, Cuevas was hired by an aviation staffing company to do repair work for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. at a Boeing hangar in Everett, Washington, and later at a Spirit supplier. He claimed he witnessed holes being improperly drilled into the 787’s bulkhead in a way that deviated from Boeing’s manufacturing specifications. The changes were made without Boeing’s permission, the lawyers said.
Boeing said in a statement that the allegations were previously reported and thoroughly investigated. The review showed that the issues raised did not present safety concerns and were addressed, the company said, adding that it is not involved in subcontractors’ personnel decisions.
The “unauthorized change” caused the fasteners to not fit properly into these holes, “seriously impairing the integrity of the aircraft,” its lawyers said in a complaint filed with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration that was made public Wednesday. -fair. His allegations were also outlined in a separate complaint filed with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Cuevas stated that Spirit fired him in March 2024 after he reported the problems internally, first with Spirit and then with Boeing. He estimated that the alleged problems he observed could affect as many as a dozen planes, according to his lawyers’ statement.
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“Our leadership is aware of the allegations and is investigating the matter,” Spirit spokesman Joe Buccino said in a statement. “We encourage all Spirit employees with concerns to come forward, secure in the knowledge that they will be protected.”
The allegations are the latest in a series of allegations that signal concerns about the manufacturing practices of Boeing or its suppliers. Earlier this month, a Boeing quality inspector alleged that the company mishandled and lost hundreds of defective 737 Max parts.
The FAA received more than 11 times more Boeing whistleblower reports in the first five months of this year compared to all of 2023. The increase came after a fuselage panel exploded on a Boeing jet mid-flight in January.
Boeing also encouraged employees to submit safety concerns to an internal program called “Speak Up.”
Cuevas struggled to find work in the Everett area after his layoff and had to look for employment outside of Washington state, according to the OSHA complaint.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
