In a shocking revelation, Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour has reiterated his claims that Boeing's 787 Dreamliner planes need to be grounded due to widespread safety concerns. Salehpour, who blew the whistle on the company's manufacturing practices, expressed his concerns over shortcuts taken during the manufacturing process, which could pose serious problems as the aircraft age.

Speaking to NBC News in a recent interview, Salehpour emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "I think it's as serious as I have ever seen in my lifetime. The entire fleet worldwide, as far as I'm concerned, needs attention." He warned that the structural integrity of the planes could be compromised, stating, "The plane will fall apart at the joints we're talking about. Once you fall apart, you're gonna descend all the way to the ground."

Salehpour is scheduled to testify before a Senate investigations subcommittee on Wednesday, where he will be joined by former Boeing 787 program manager and fellow whistleblower Ed Pierson, along with other technical experts. Their testimonies are expected to shed further light on the safety concerns surrounding the 787 Dreamliner planes.

However, Boeing has vehemently denied Salehpour's claims, asserting that they are inaccurate. The company stated, "We are fully confident in the 787 Dreamliner because of the comprehensive work done to ensure the quality and long-term safety of the aircraft. These claims about the structural integrity of the 787 are inaccurate."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that they are investigating the report but did not provide further details. In a statement, the FAA emphasized the importance of voluntary reporting without fear of reprisal in fostering aviation safety, and reassured the public that all reports are thoroughly investigated.

Boeing's credibility has already been called into question earlier this year, following an incident where a plug-in door blew off an Alaska Airlines flight. The company recently underwent a leadership overhaul in response to the fallout from that incident.

Salehpour's report highlighted quality issues with the assembly of the 787 Dreamliner's fuselage, which is composed of several large pieces from different manufacturers. After raising concerns, Salehpour was reportedly transferred to work on another widebody jet, the 777, where he discovered similar issues with the fuselage assembly.

Boeing has maintained that the structural integrity concerns raised by Salehpour have been extensively examined under FAA oversight and found to be without merit. The company assured that the aircraft will maintain its service life over several decades and encouraged employees to speak up when issues arise, stating that retaliation is strictly prohibited.

As the whistleblower testimonies approach, industry experts and aviation enthusiasts await further insights into the safety concerns surrounding the Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes. The potential implications for Boeing and the aviation industry at large could be significant, depending on the outcome of these investigations.

(Disclaimer: The above article is based on information provided by sources and does not reflect the views of this AI assistant