this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2024
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Summary

Whistleblowers at Boeing allege widespread safety lapses, including missing or defective parts and improper assembly practices, driven by pressure to maintain production schedules.

A January incident where a door panel blew off a new 737-9 Max mid-flight has sparked investigations, with insiders like Sam Mohawk revealing that thousands of faulty parts may have been installed on planes.

Other whistleblowers describe similar concerns over quality control failures, managerial indifference, and retaliation for speaking out.

Boeing denies safety risks but faces ongoing FAA investigations amid heightened scrutiny over its practices.

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[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 81 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

That's what happens when you tie people's bonuses directly to how many planes they push out the door. You optimize for production quantity at the cost of everything else.

[–] credo@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

Let’s ignore Boeing for a second, because this is an interesting problem. Our society rewards production and accepting that, I’m not sure getting planes “out the door” is inherently bad.

It seems to me the issue lies in how to reward the auditors. I think we’d all agree this responsibility should ultimately be a Gov’t function.. but internal quality assurance is a thing too. So, how does a company reward this team of auditors? E.x., Finding more errors naively seems like the correct metric. However, their bonus would then go down with program effectiveness- that is, fewer errors/faults based on adversarial competition between the production team and the auditing team would lead to fewer findings (presumably).

Management bonuses is a whole other issue. Then, who should oversee this entire program of rewards to ensure it’s systematically safe for the public? Assuming we accept the premise that rewards are desired.

[–] Dettweiler42@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Boeing doesn't reward their auditors (called QA Inspectors in aviation). They've been cutting down their numbers and replacing them with much less experienced people at much lower pay for many years.

[–] credo@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yes, that’s why I said let’s ignore Boeing. I’m asking for the “correct” solution to this problem.

The more I think about it, I think the adversarial nature of auditing must come from the Government side. Which is precisely why Boeing became an issue.

There is an option where independent teams of auditors review the product, and the team with the most findings gets a bonus. Perhaps this could be considered. But again, who’s job is it to ensure this overall program is safe for the public? That’s not the manufacturer, especially a corporation. We already know the courts have ruled corpos only responsibility is to current stock holders and short term gains.

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[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 weeks ago

Reward the entire company when the recall numbers get lower and the safety in the air numbers get higher. Have a culture where someone saying that something isn't right is a good thing, not punished. This could be done through the training of managers and open door policies. People don't always need financial compensation. Telling an employee that they're appreciated for finding and fixing issues can go a really long way.

[–] NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

And this is why "the free market will solve everything" is naive, at best.

It is not a zero sum game where QA is red teaming production and so forth. The execs (and anyone with stock) benefits from "planes out the door". There is zero reason to incentivize QA/QC and... they don't.

[–] mosiacmango@lemm.ee 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

The part that proponents gloss over about the "the market will solve everything" is that people die first. Boeing puts out very bad planes that kill people, then they fail. The cereal company puts arsenic in food and kills people, then they fail, on and on. We know this is how the market works, because that's how it used to work before we regulated it.

The market alone is an executioner, and everyone rallying for it doesnt think they will be next.

[–] TimLovesTech@badatbeing.social 48 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

As with lots of topics, John Oliver does a great job explaining how something as "simple" as a company merger and moving the headquarters can begin to rot a company from the top down.

John Oliver - Boeing

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 20 points 2 weeks ago

Everyone in Seattle knew this was going to happen when it happened. The local employees had been through a lot with Boeing and would never have let them outsource and do all the shady shit they're doing. It was obvious at the time what they were up to.

[–] sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 2 weeks ago

Something as simple as a crack pipe.

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 33 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I've worked in production environments and let me tell you: some managers simply do not give a fuck.
At least our parts were not putting people's lives at risk.

Edit: "not"

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 16 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

At least our parts were putting people's lives at risk.

Did you mean "Weren't putting people's lives at risk"?

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Hahahahaha
Yes, thank you.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 20 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think Boeing's hitmen are barking up the wrong tree.

[–] tiefling@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago

Do you think the hitmen and counter-hitmen will eventually end up confronting each other?

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago (32 children)

I said I would never fly again unless I absolutely have to. Now I will absolutely have to and I hope to god it's on an Airbus.

[–] Dettweiler42@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Airbus has it's own set of issues and maintenance problems. They just haven't been newsworthy. I will hand it to them, they've consistently improved the maintainability of their aircraft over time, however they have no interest in improving longevity. Boeing has an extensive aging fleet plan and support. Airbus just says "buy a new airplane".

[–] elucubra@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Can you link to sources for this?

Also, it makes sense to retire a plane when it’s 20-30 years old, essentially because it becomes extremely inefficient. That said There are nearly 200 A300s flying. They were introduced in 1974.

I have a friend who is the chief engineer for a charter airline that has a 4 plane fleet, A320, First gen. From the 80s or early 90s.

Your claim doesn’t seem to hold up.

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[–] blattrules@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You should be able to check what airplane your flight uses. The last few times I’ve flown, I’ve been able to sort by airbus. It might be site dependent though.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

Good to know, thanks.

[–] Coreidan@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Even with everything considered you’re statistically more likely to die on your way to the airport than on the actual flight.

You’re being irrational.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Cool. I don’t fly because it’s loud, obnoxious and uncomfortable.

Amazing how many people here seem to think wanting comfort and a lack of stress and anxiety being cooped up in a tiny, loud tube with a bunch of obnoxious strangers is such an irrational thing.

[–] Coreidan@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

And what is airbus going to do for you? Did you forget your comment?

[–] Tyfud@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You can choose flights that use airbus, as someone else said.

I'm on my way back from the UK on British airways because they use airbus. Was roughly the same cost as the delta flight using a Boeing.

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[–] P1nkman@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Haven't been on an airplane for 5.5 years. From Norway, lived in Australia for 3 years (return trip to Norway twice a year), and now live in Denmark. Closer to the continent, so we drive on holidays instead. And I'm keeping it that way!

[–] Infomatics90@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 weeks ago

i don't fly i just take trains and buses

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[–] 5in1k@lemm.ee 11 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

Friend of mine worked there for a year in industrial health working yo make their process safer and it’s a shit show. Someone irradiated themselves.

[–] TheOakTree@lemm.ee 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Imagine just doing your job and then suddenly, something happens and now you are almost guaranteed to get cancer.

What a shitshow indeed.

[–] 5in1k@lemm.ee 3 points 2 weeks ago

Oh they ignored every sign and precaution and didn’t believe radiation was dangerous. Bunch of stupid good old boy shit.

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[–] ramsorge@discuss.online 6 points 2 weeks ago

Boeing killed John Barnett.

[–] Maultasche@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

Looks like Agent 747 is getting another mission

[–] warrenson@lemmy.nz 4 points 2 weeks ago

Seems like an appropriate thread to drop this

https://youtu.be/bfA2p6Em7bI

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 weeks ago
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