Boeing (NYSE: BA) has been hit with another significant safety issue, affecting approximately 300 aircraft operated by United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) and American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified potentially fatal faults that could lead to catastrophic failures mid-air, raising severe safety concerns for the already embattled company.
The FAA’s investigation revealed two major issues. The first involves the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 9 models, where a fault in the anti-icing system could potentially lead to both engines shutting down due to icing conditions. This defect poses a significant risk of in-flight engine failure, which could result in a loss of thrust and the inability to maintain safe flight and landing.
The second issue concerns the Boeing 787 Dreamliner series. Reports indicated heat damage around the engine anti-ice duct, which could compromise the structural integrity of the engine inlets. This damage may lead to the inlet detaching mid-flight, posing a threat not only to the aircraft’s safe operation but also to the passengers onboard​.
United Airlines operates a significant number of Boeing aircraft, including the 787 Dreamliner, which is a cornerstone of their international fleet. Similarly, American Airlines, which has placed substantial orders for Boeing aircraft, now faces operational and safety reassessments due to these faults.
The FAA has mandated immediate safety measures and corrective actions from Boeing to address these faults. This development is part of a broader scrutiny on Boeing’s manufacturing and safety protocols, which have been under the microscope following multiple high-profile incidents and crashes in recent years. The agency has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Boeing’s quality control systems to prevent such issues from recurring​​.
Background on Boeing’s Recent Struggles
Boeing’s reputation has been significantly tarnished over the past few years due to a series of safety issues and mishaps. The most notable were the crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019, both involving the 737 MAX, which led to a global grounding of the fleet. These incidents were attributed to flaws in the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) and raised serious questions about Boeing’s safety culture and regulatory oversight​.
Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, was one of the first whistleblowers to claim that Spirit leadership had disregarded manufacturing defects on the 737 MAX. He had provided a deposition in a Spirit shareholder lawsuit and filed a complaint with the FAA alleging serious misconduct by senior quality management on the 737 production line at Spirit.
In April 2023, Dean was fired from Spirit and subsequently filed a complaint with the Department of Labor, claiming his termination was in retaliation for raising concerns about aviation safety. His case was still pending at the time of his death from battling a sudden and aggressive infection.
Dean’s passing comes just two months after the apparent suicide of another Boeing whistleblower, John “Mitch” Barnett, who was found dead from a gunshot wound in Charleston, South Carolina. Barnett had been providing depositions alleging that Boeing retaliated against him for reporting quality lapses.
The FAA had investigated Dean’s safety allegations and determined that they were appropriately addressed under an FAA-approved safety program. However, due to privacy provisions, specific details could not be released​.
Information for this story was found via Global News, The Daily Mail, United Media Room, and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
