The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into Boeing after the company disclosed potential lapses in inspections on their 787 Dreamliner aircrafts. The investigation was initiated after an employee reported the issue to Boeing management, who then informed the FAA.

According to the FAA, Boeing may not have completed necessary inspections to ensure sufficient bonding and grounding at the wing-fuselage junction on certain 787 Dreamliner planes. The agency is also looking into allegations of false aircraft records by Boeing employees. It remains unclear at this time how many aircrafts are affected by the lapses.

As a result, Boeing is in the process of re-inspecting all 787 airplanes currently in production and is expected to develop a plan to address the in-service fleet. The FAA reassured the public that it will take any necessary actions to prioritize the safety of the flying public.

In an email sent to Boeing employees in South Carolina, Scott Stocker, the Vice President of the 787 Dreamliner program, acknowledged the misconduct and violation of company policies. He revealed that multiple individuals failed to perform a required test, but recorded the work as completed. Stocker commended the employee who reported the irregularity, emphasizing the importance of speaking up when something seems amiss.

Boeing stated that their engineering team assessed the misconduct to not pose an immediate safety of flight issue. However, the incident will impact both customers and employees, as the test needs to be conducted out of sequence on planes currently being built.

This investigation follows a recent incident involving a LATAM Airlines flight, where approximately 50 people were injured due to severe shaking on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The incident was caused by a flight attendant accidentally activating a switch on the pilot's seat, which led to the plane's nose being pushed down.

Boeing had subsequently advised airlines to check cockpit seats on their 787 Dreamliners for loose covers on switches and provided instructions on how to turn off power to the pilot seat motor if needed.

Boeing has faced heightened scrutiny since January when an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 had to make an emergency landing due to a door plug detachment mid-flight. The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the incident was hindered by a lack of repair records and security camera footage.

Furthermore, Boeing withdrew an application for a safety exemption related to their 737 Max 7 aircraft after criticism from US Senator Tammy Duckworth. She condemned Boeing's attempt to seek exemption from safety standards to expedite the entry of the 737 Max 7 into commercial service.

In recent news, the deaths of two whistleblowers have also come to light. Former Boeing quality manager, John Barnett, who had blown the whistle on issues at the South Carolina factory building the 787 Dreamliner, passed away from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Additionally, Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, and one of the first whistleblowers to raise concerns about manufacturing defects on the 737 Max, died after battling a sudden, fast-spreading infection.

As the investigation into Boeing's lapses in inspections intensifies, it is anticipated that strict scrutiny will be placed on the company to ensure compliance and prioritize safety in their operations.