Hundreds Of Boeing Planes Reportedly Have A Fatal Fault That Could Cause Them To Explode Mid-Air

In March 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) introduced a fresh directive targeting a potential flaw discovered in Boeing airplanes, notably emphasizing the 777 series. According to the FAA, this flaw, predominantly an electrical malfunction within the 777 jets, carried the peril of sparking fuel tanks situated on the wings, potentially resulting in fires or explosions. The disclosure of this issue heightened safety concerns regarding nearly 300 Boeing aircraft, encompassing those utilized by prominent carriers like United and American Airlines.

A Boeing spokesperson said in a statement that the FAA’s notice was part of a ‘standard regulatory process that has helped ensure air travel is the safest form of transportation. This is not an immediate safety of flight issue.’

‘There are multiple redundancies designed into modern commercial airplanes to ensure protection for electromagnetic effects. The 777 fleet has been operating for nearly 30 years, and has safely flown more than 3.9 billion passengers,’ the statement continued. 

Boeing promptly responded to the FAA’s notification, categorizing it as part of the routine regulatory process and accentuating the robust safety protocols integrated into contemporary commercial aircraft. They underscored the extensive track record of the 777 fleet in safely transporting billions of passengers over almost three decades.

Nevertheless, the seriousness of the issue was underscored by the FAA’s proposal, which estimated a relatively modest cost for the essential safety remedy, involving the installation of electrical bonding and grounding mechanisms to avert potential ignition sources.

‘The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in an ignition source inside the fuel tank,’ the FAA said, ‘and subsequent fire or explosion.’

This directive joined a sequence of safety advisories and controversies encircling Boeing, encompassing past occurrences like door plug malfunctions, in-flight engine fires, and tragic accidents. Testifying before the US Senate, whistleblower Sam Salehpour accused Boeing of compromising safety standards and alleged retaliation for voicing concerns about the company’s practices.

‘Despite what Boeing officials state publicly, there is no safety culture at Boeing,’ Sam Salehpour told the US Senate during open hearings last month.

‘I observed Boeing workers using improper and untested methods to align parts in the 777,’ Salehpour, once a quality engineer at Boeing, told Senate investigators.

‘In one instance even jumping on pieces of the airplane to get them to align,’ he said. ‘I was ignored, I was told not to create delays, I was told, frankly, to shut up,’ Salehpour told the Senate’s homeland security subcommittee on investigations.

The FAA’s proposal specifically pinpointed the 777 series, signaling the necessity for revisions to maintenance and inspection protocols for five models. The basis for this directive was Boeing’s internal alert bulletin, which identified the risk of electrostatic discharge near fuel tanks. Despite the relatively minor cost associated with the proposed remedy, the FAA’s actions underscored the gravity of the safety issue at hand.

Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines encountered a distinct incident involving severe turbulence aboard one of its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, resulting in passenger injuries and necessitating an emergency landing in Bangkok, Thailand. Goh Choon Phong, the CEO of Singapore Airlines publicly apologized and extended condolences to the affected families.

It built up, like a feeling of going up a roller coaster, up the crest, and suddenly dropping very dramatically,’ passenger Dzafran Azmir told the New York Times.

Dzafran, a 28-year-old university student, said that he personally witnessed two other passengers tending to bloody gashes on their heads following the incident.

Outside the realm of safety concerns, Boeing grappled with labor disputes, as firefighters protested over pay and safety conditions at manufacturing facilities. The potential resolution of this dispute hinted at persistent challenges for Boeing in upholding both safety standards and labor relations.

‘We are deeply saddened by this incident,’ Phong said. ‘On behalf of Singapore Airlines, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased.’