A new whistleblower from Boeing has come forward with allegations that aircraft bodies were regularly leaving the factory with serious defects. Santiago Paredes, a former quality inspector at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems in Kansas, revealed that he often found up to 200 defects in parts being prepared for shipment to Boeing. These defects included missing fasteners, bent parts, and even missing components. Paredes was known within the company as the “showstopper” because he frequently delayed production by expressing his concerns.
Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing’s largest supplier, denied Paredes’ claims, calling them “completely untrue.” Boeing has not yet provided a comment on the allegations. Both companies are under investigation following incidents involving Boeing aircraft, such as an unused door coming loose on a 737 Max shortly after takeoff, and a freighter making a belly landing due to a technical defect with the front wheels.
Paredes is not the only whistleblower to raise concerns about the practices at Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems. Another former quality auditor, Joshua Dean, passed away from a bacterial infection after filing a complaint against the company. In addition, John ‘Mitch’ Barnett, a former Boeing employee, also raised concerns about potential safety hazards in the aircraft.
The revelations from these whistleblowers have shed light on serious issues within the manufacturing and quality control processes at Boeing and its suppliers, raising questions about the safety of Boeing aircraft.