Ahead of a Wednesday Senate hearing to discuss safety concerns with the manufacturing practices of Boeing, whistleblower Sam Salehpour has said that the “entire fleet” of 787 Dreamliner jets needs to be grounded.
“The entire fleet worldwide, as far as I’m concerned right now, needs attention,” Salehpour said in an interview with NBC News on Tuesday.
Salehpour shared that safety issues that have gone unchecked are the main reason for his concern and his decision to speak out against the aircraft manufacturer, for whom he used to be an engineer for more than a decade.
Lawyers for Salehpour wrote a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration about his concerns in January, depicting his observation of “major lapses in the company’s quality control process,” The New York Times first reported.
The letter went on to describe Boeing as having a “culture of cutting corners.”
“When I see questionable actions that could cause safety problems, I have committed. I’m going to come forward regardless of what the cost is,” he said.
Salehpour’s concerns came shortly after the door plug on a 737 jet flew off mid-flight, leaving the Alaska Airlines passengers onboard terrified as pilots worked to land the plane. No one was injured.
The whistleblower says this is just a part of the issues, and drastic action needs to be taken in order to ensure everyone’s safety.
“You need to check your gaps and make sure that you don’t have potential for premature failure,” he said.
A spokesperson for Boeing shared a statement with Newsweek about the whistleblower’s comments and the growing concern over the 787 Dreamliner.
“We are fully confident in the 787 Dreamliner. These claims about the structural integrity of the 787 are inaccurate and do not represent the comprehensive work Boeing has done to ensure the quality and long-term safety of the aircraft,” the spokesperson said.
Still, the criticism from federal regulators and others in the industry has led to a shakeup at Boeing, as the company’s CEO, Dave Calhoun, announced he will step down.
Wednesday’s hearings will be before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the Senate Commerce Committee. While they’ve been invited, no one from Boeing is expected to attend either hearing.