Exposing Quality Control Failures: A Whistleblower’s Journey to Stop Boeing 787 Errors

An aircraft technician working for Boeing’s subcontractor, Spirit AeroSystems, has contacted the American civil aviation regulator FAA to warn about possible assembly and maintenance errors in Boeing 787 aircraft. The technician, Richard Cuevas, observed practices that did not meet quality standards while working on repairing Boeing planes. For example, Cuevas noted that employees were making holes in part of the fuselage that were too large, which could lead to electrical breakdowns or pressure problems during a flight.

Cuevas believes that at least three aircraft have these assembly and maintenance errors and estimates that ten to twelve aircraft may be affected. However, he claims that when he reported these issues to Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing, they went unaddressed. Cuevas was subsequently fired in March 2024, with his supervisor suspecting that he had complained about the problems.

Boeing stated that they launched an investigation after receiving information from a subcontractor employee and addressed the issues raised. However, this situation raises concerns about the quality control processes within the aerospace industry and highlights the importance of whistleblowers in ensuring safety and compliance in aircraft manufacturing and maintenance.