Ex-Boeing inspector alleges use of scrapyard parts in aircraft assembly

In the latest development concerning Boeing, a former employee has alleged that the company has been using "scrapyard parts" in its factory assembly lines for over ten years. Merle Meyers, a former quality control manager at Boeing, informed CNN that workers at the 787 Dreamliner factory in Everett, Washington, "routinely took parts that were deemed unsuitable to fly out of an internal scrapyard and put them back on factory assembly lines." Meyers estimates that approximately 50,000 parts bypassed quality control and were used in aircraft assembly.

Meyers claims that these deficiencies were part of an intentional and organized effort by Boeing to meet aggressive production timelines. He left the company last year but believes that while Boeing may no longer use scrapyard parts, the practice of incorporating other unauthorized parts into assembly lines persists.

The surge in whistleblower complaints continues as a new report indicates more than 100 employees have come forward since the beginning of the year. In comparison, there were only 11 reports throughout 2023.