12日，印度航空公司一架波音787-8“梦想客机”在起飞后不久坠毁，这架飞机也成为全球首架因空难全损的波音787型飞机，目前事故原因尚不清楚。

资料显示，“梦想客机”由波音公司生产。多年来，多位吹哨人持续就该机型的安全问题发出警告。

Concerns had been raised by whistleblowers for years over the safety of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft which crashed in Ahmedabad in western India on Thursday.

2019年，波音公司美国南卡罗来纳州北查尔斯顿的工厂被爆出787机型的生产过程存在大量安全隐患。

据在此担任质量经理的“吹哨人”约翰·巴尼特向BBC揭露，为了追赶生产进度，承受巨大压力的工人们“故意”在生产线上安装不符合标准的零部件，甚至有些次品零件“被从废料箱中捡回”装到新飞机上。

John Barnett, who had worked for Boeing for more than 30 years and had been employed as a quality manager at the North Charleston plant, which builds the 787 Dreamliner, had alleged to the BBC in 2019 that under-pressure workers had been “deliberately” fitting sub-standard parts to aircraft on the production line to prevent delays on the production line.



约翰·巴尼特 资料图

巴尼特还表示，该工厂生产的787-8“梦想客机”的氧气系统存在安全隐患，可能导致四分之一的应急呼吸面罩在紧急情况下失效。

He had also claimed he had uncovered serious problems with oxygen systems, which could mean one in four breathing masks would not work in an emergency.

他早在2017年退休前就多次向管理层反映这些担忧，但未得到回应。退休后，巴尼特对波音公司提起了举报人诉讼。

2024年3月8日，巴尼特被发现死在自己的车中，警方称其似乎死于“一处自残性枪伤”。离世前一周他正在为该诉讼案提供证据。

Barnett, who retired in 2017, alleged he had alerted managers to his concerns, but no action had been taken. After retiring in 2017, he commenced legal action against the company and in the week before his sudden death in March 2024, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, he had been giving evidence in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company.

此外，波音工程师兼“吹哨人”山姆·萨莱普尔（Sam Salehpour）也曾在2024年4月发出警告，指控组装飞机的工人未能妥善填充分段制造的机身部件连接处的微小缝隙。

他的律师指出，这会导致飞机结构承受异常磨损，不仅缩短飞机寿命，更存在灾难性失效的风险。

萨莱普尔因此呼吁波音应“全球停飞每一架787梦幻客机”。

Another whistleblower, current Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour, had in April 2024 told NBC News that Boeing should “ground every 787 Dreamliner jet worldwide” after warning they are at risk of premature failure.

He alleged that crews assembling the plane failed to properly fill tiny gaps when joining separately manufactured parts of the fuselage. His attorneys said this put more wear on the plane, shortening its lifespan and risking catastrophic failure.

面对这些严重的指控，波音公司始终予以否认，并坚持声称“787是安全的”。

据了解，美国联邦航空管理局（FAA）目前正在调查萨莱普尔的指控。

Boeing has always denied these assertions and insists the 787 is safe. However the Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating Salehpour’s allegations.

此次印度航空客机空难涉事的787-8型飞机于2013年12月14日首次飞行，并在2014年1月交付给印度航空，目前已经使用了11年多。

The aircraft involved in Thursday's crash is an 11-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. This is the first major accident involving the 787.

波音公司就此发表声明称：“我们正与印度航空联系，随时准备提供支持。我们的心与乘客、机组人员、救援人员及所有受影响的人们同在。”

Boeing issued the following statement: “We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected.”

据美国股价走势表显示，波音公司12日股价在美股盘前交易中下跌8%。

编辑：左卓

来源：印度时报 BBC 环球时报