In response to ongoing safety concerns surrounding Boeing's jets, a Senate committee has announced hearings where a whistleblower and a panel of aviation experts will testify. The Senate Commerce Committee has invited three experts, including individuals involved in a critical report released in February that highlighted deficiencies in Boeing's safety culture.

The report, which outlined 50 recommendations, labeled the company's safety culture as "inadequate and confusing." It called for Boeing to review and develop a plan to address these issues within six months. The plan would then be shared with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which published the report. The investigation was initiated in 2020 following the tragic Boeing 737 Max crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019.

Scheduled for Wednesday, the hearing will include testimony from Dr. Tracy Dillinger, an expert on safety culture from NASA. Dr. Najmedin Meshkati, a professor at the University of Southern California specializing in aviation safety, will also be present, along with Dr. Javier de Luis, an aeronautics expert from MIT.

This hearing comes at a time when Boeing has faced additional safety incidents this year alone. In January, an Alaska Airlines flight experienced a blown-off fuselage panel on a Boeing 737 Max 9, resulting in an emergency landing over Oregon. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. CEO Dave Calhoun stepped down in late March amid ongoing challenges.

In a separate hearing on the same day, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations will hear testimony from Boeing whistleblower Sam Salehpour. The focus of this hearing is "Examining Boeing's Broken Safety Culture: Firsthand Accounts." Salehpour has alleged that Boeing dismissed quality and safety concerns related to the production of its 777 and 787 aircraft. These claims are currently under investigation by the FAA.

The hearings will provide a critical platform for experts and whistleblowers to address safety and quality concerns within Boeing's operations. Lawmakers hope to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand and work towards enhancing aviation safety standards.