On June 26, a new whistle-blower came forward alleging that he faced retaliation after raising concerns about potential safety issues with the manufacturing of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Mr. Richard Cuevas, a contractor who worked for Strom and was assigned to Spirit AeroSystems, filed complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. He claimed that he was dismissed in March 2024 after flagging deviations in the manufacturing of the forward pressure bulkhead, a critical component that manages pressure during flights.
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Cuevas reported that Spirit AeroSystems made unauthorized changes to fastener hole dimensions in the forward pressure bulkhead without notifying Boeing. He expressed his concerns about the substandard work and safety issues, but his managers allegedly failed to address the problem. When his manager suspected that Cuevas was the one who complained about these issues, he was terminated.
Katz Banks Kumin, the law firm representing Cuevas, stated that their client witnessed critical safety issues with the forward pressure bulkhead assembly on multiple planes that deviated from Boeing's specifications. They also claimed that Boeing's and Spirit's statements about the safety of the 787 Dreamliners were fraudulent. Cuevas is the latest in a series of whistle-blowers from Boeing's operations, which have faced increased scrutiny following a January incident on a 737 Max operated by Alaska Airlines that required an emergency landing. The attorneys also represent Mr. Sam Salehpour, a Boeing engineer who testified in April about concerns over 787 manufacturing practices and alleged retaliation for speaking out.
Boeing responded by stating that it is not involved in the personnel decisions of subcontractors and that it thoroughly investigated the issues raised by Cuevas, determining that they did not present a safety concern and were addressed. Spirit AeroSystems said that its leadership is aware of the allegations and is looking into the matter, encouraging employees to come forward with any concerns.