Boeing 777 flaw prompts FAA action, safety fixes underway
Earlier this year, a deadly flaw was detected in another batch of Boeing airplanes, reveals the "Daily Mail". The problem concerns the 777 model. As a result of the flaw, there could be a fire and explosion of the fuel tanks on the wings. The British tabloid states that the issue may affect nearly three hundred "iron birds".
At the beginning of this year, a serious defect was discovered in Boeing 777 airplanes, which could pose a deadly threat to travelers. The flaw concerns issues with the electrical system, which could lead to the ignition and explosion of fuel tanks on the wings of these airplanes.
This flaw could affect nearly 300 Boeing airplanes, including those used by United and American Airlines. The very concerning information was announced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in March. The FAA asked Boeing and other experts to respond by May 9th.
Up to 300 airplanes have a potential flaw. Boeing's statement
A Boeing spokesperson stated that the FAA is a "standard regulatory process that has helped ensure air travel is the safest form of transportation. This is not an immediate safety of flight issue."
There are multiple redundancies designed into modern commercial airplanes to ensure protection for electromagnetic effects. The 777 fleet has been operating for nearly 30 years, and has safely flown more than 3.9 billion passengers – added the Boeing representative.
Costs and solutions
The FAA recommends installing new bonding and grounding systems to prevent short circuits and electrostatic discharges near fuel tanks.
It is also estimated that fixing this issue will cost Boeing less than CAD 949,000 for all 292 Boeing 777 airplanes registered in the U.S. The cost of parts needed to eliminate the explosion risk associated with electrostatic discharges will only be CAD 133 per airplane.
Previous problems and warnings
The latest warning about the risk of discharges near wing fuel tanks comes in the context of previous issues. Among them were door failures and engine fires. Notably, two plane crashes claimed a total of 346 lives.
The controversies surrounding Boeing were further fueled by whistleblower Sam Salehpour's testimony, who accused the company of unsafe practices in building the 777 model during Senate hearings.
Salehpour, a former quality engineer at Boeing, claimed that workers used improper methods of assembling parts, leading to potentially dangerous situations. He also testified that he was transferred to the 777 program as a form of reprisal for reporting internal safety issues.
I was ignored, I was told not to create delays, I was told, frankly, to shut up - said Salehpour during testimony to the Senate Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
Mysterious death of a Boeing whistleblower
Recently, another Boeing expert made headlines. Joshua Dean, a well-known whistleblower who for many years revealed issues with Boeing airplane production, died at the age of 45. His actions brought attention to numerous irregularities in the production process. Dean is the second whistleblower from the company to die this year.
Currently, Boeing is going through a severe crisis, partly related to the problems that have been revealed.
