Air India 787 Crash Near Ahmedabad Raises Boeing Safety Concerns

The crash of Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, near Ahmedabad has brought renewed scrutiny on Boeing's manufacturing practices amid allegations of safety lapses. Whistleblowers, including former Boeing quality managers Ed Pierson, Sam Salehpour, and John Barnett, have raised concerns about dangerous manufacturing defects, such as improperly sealed fuselage gaps and substandard parts, which they warned could compromise aircraft safety. Experts analyzing CCTV footage noted unusual conditions during takeoff, such as extended landing gear and retracted flaps, which may have contributed to the crash, though definitive conclusions await Black Box data. Salehpour's lawyers have urged the FAA to release a delayed report on these structural defects to better understand the risks, especially as the investigation was reportedly completed months ago. Barnett, who died under unexplained circumstances, had been a vocal critic of Boeing's rushed production and declining safety culture, highlighting pressures that led to ignoring defects. The tragedy, killing 241 onboard with only one survivor, underscores ongoing concerns about Boeing's quality control and the safety of the 787 Dreamliner fleet.