NEW DELHI: The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, has put spotlight on a whistleblower’s warnings made in 2024 over the aircraft.The ill-fated aircraft, carrying 242 people including 10 crew members, plunged into a residential complex minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday. It was meant to fly to London’s Gatwick Airport — but lasted just around 30 seconds in the air.As rescue teams continue recovery efforts, aviation experts are turning their focus to the aircraft itself, the 787 Dreamliner, hailed as a technological marvel, yet shadowed by safety concerns.
Whistleblower’s chilling warnings
In 2024, New York Times reported about Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour’s formal whistleblower complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which alleged serious structural flaws in the manufacturing of the 787 Dreamliner and its cousin, the 777. His claims suggested shortcuts were taken on the factory floor that could dramatically shorten the aircraft’s lifespan and potentially lead to “catastrophic” failure over time.“I’m not doing this to bring Boeing down,” Salehpour had said in a press briefing adding: “I’m doing this because I want to prevent a crash.”According to Salehpour, improperly filled gaps in the aircraft fuselage — where different parts of the plane are joined — could increase stress and wear during flights, potentially compromising the structural integrity of the aircraft over years.
The ‘gaps’ Boeing couldn’t ignore
His allegations were not isolated. Back in 2021, the FAA and Boeing paused delivery of Dreamliners for nearly two years to investigate precisely the same issue: improperly filled microscopic gaps. Boeing claimed it corrected the process, resumed deliveries, and maintained that all active aircraft were safe.But Salehpour had alleged that the problem persisted. He described shocking assembly practices — including workers “jumping on aircraft parts” to force them into alignment. “That’s not how you build an airplane,” he said.Boeing had, however, pushed back hard against the allegations. “These claims about the structural integrity of the 787 are inaccurate and do not represent the comprehensive work Boeing has done to ensure long-term safety,” the company had said in a statement.
In contact with Air India, ready to support them: Boeing Airplanes
Boeing Airplanes said that it is in contact with Air India regarding the AI-171 flight with 230 passengers and 12 crew bound for London’s Gatwick airport crashed shortly after it took off in Meghaninagar area in Ahmedabad.The official X handle of US planemaker Boeing Commercial Airplanes said, “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.”Meanwhile, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it is in contact with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regarding Air India flight AI171.“When an international incident occurs, that government leads the investigation,” the FAA said in a statement. “In the event assistance is requested, the NTSB is the official US representative and the FAA provides technical support.”“We stand ready to launch a team immediately in coordination with the NTSB,” it said.