A NEW whistleblower has come forward claiming that Boeing is using non-conforming parts on its 737 Max planes.
Sam Mohawk, a current Boeing employee, alleged that the company has cut corners by losing track of parts that have been labeled as being not up to design standards, said Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal.
The US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released the information on Mohawk, who works as a quality assurance inspector in Renton, Washington, on Tuesday.
Mohawk claimed that non-conforming parts get a second chance since they can be fixed or were mislabeled.
"Mohawk feared that non-conforming parts were being installed on the 737s and that it could lead to a catastrophic event," read a statement from the subcommittee, adding that Mohawk filed a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
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"He said that he has been told by his supervisors to conceal this evidence from the FAA, and that he is being retaliated against as well," Blumenthal said in a statement.
"This is a culture that continues to prioritize profits, push limits, and disregard its workers.
"A culture where those who speak up are silenced and sidelined while blame is pushed down to the factory floor."
Mohawk claimed that his supervisors told him to hide evidence from the FAA and that he was being retaliated against as a result, said the subcommittee.
Boeing responded to the claims in a new statement.
"We received this document late Monday evening and are reviewing the claims," said a spokesperson.
"We continuously encourage employees to report all concerns as our priority is to ensure the safety of our airplanes and the flying public."
'FAR FROM PERFECT'
Boeing CEO David Calhoun, who has led the company since 2020 spoke to lawmakers today on the company's safety culture.
"Our culture is far from perfect, but we are taking action and making progress," he said in prepared remarks ahead of the hearing.
"We understand the gravity."
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The company has drawn criticism ever since an unused door fell off a brand new 737 Max plane during an Alaska Airlines flight.
During an ongoing investigation, Boeing whistleblowers told the Senate in April that there were major production issues with the 737 Max, the 787 Dreamliner, and the 777 models.
Calhoun faced tough questioning from committee members regarding those events, his salary and more.
"I am here to answer the questions. I am here in the spirit of transparency and I am here to take responsibility," Reuters reported Calhoun told reporters earlier as he walked into the hearing room.
Friends and families of those who died on the Boeing crashes sat in the audience of Clahoun's testimony.
“I would like to speak directly to those who lost loved ones on Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. I want to personally apologize, on behalf of everyone at Boeing," a transcript of Calhoun's prepared remarks read.
"We are deeply sorry for your losses. Nothing is more important than the safety of the people who step on board our airplanes. Every day we seek to honor the memory of those lost through a steadfast commitment to safety and quality."
Calhoun went on to testify that he hasn't directly spoke to the whistleblowers and that the company has a strict no-retaliation policy.
He claimed that most of the issues at Boeing stemmed from an untrained workforce, and that Boeing's production alone isn't to blame for the incidents.
“Every issue that occurs out in the field with an airplane, our industry doesn’t actually point fingers at each other; we all rally around what happened, and if the manufacturer can contribute to fixing that, we will," Calhoun said.
Despite the seemingly constant media circus around Boeing recently, concerns about its safety and quality control conditions aren't new.
Five years ago, two 737 Max aircraft were lost in separate, yet nearly identical incidents, killing 346 people.
The families of the victims will be present at the Senate hearing, where Calhoun is expected to apologize.
"We are deeply sorry for your losses," he said in his prepared opening comment.
"Nothing is more important than the safety of the people who step on board our airplanes."
Calhoun stepped in as CEO of Boeing after former boss, Dennis Muilenburg, received harsh criticism in the aftermath of the incidents.
'GUT-WRENCHING'
Before giving his statement before the Senate Subcommittee, Calhoun stood up and faced the families of the victims of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.
Several people were present, holding photos of their family members who died in the incidents.
"I would like to apologize on behalf of all our Boeing associates spread throughout the world - past and present - for their losses," said Calhoun.
"They're gut-wrenching. I apologize for the grief we have caused.
"And I want you to know that we are totally committed in their memory to work and focus on safety for as long, as long as we are employed by Boeing."
After the brief statement, Calhoun returned to the witness table to begin his opening remarks.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Boeing for comment.
