Accidental Police Discovery Uncovers Alleged Fraud in Aircraft Parts
An Italian subcontractor supplied defective parts for Boeing aircraft between 2017 and 2020, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
An alleged fraud scheme was uncovered thanks to a chance police discovery, according to law enforcement sources.
In May 2020, Italian police caught two men dumping chemical waste into the sewers of Brindisi, a port city in southern Italy, near a small aircraft components factory.
Five years later, what seemed like a routine case of environmental pollution has led to a major judicial investigation into how thousands of defective titanium and aluminum parts, manufactured in Italy, ended up in nearly 500 Boeing 787 aircraft still in operation, according to a Reuters report.
The investigation centers on the small aerospace components manufacturer, Manufacturing Process Specification (MPS), which allegedly defrauded its customers by using cheaper, lower-quality metals to produce floor fittings and other aircraft parts. The company’s executives deny the accusations.
The preliminary hearing for the case was set to begin in Italy on Thursday but was postponed at the last minute to May 15.
Boeing (BA.N) has reiterated that there is no immediate safety risk. Meanwhile, U.S. regulators are preparing technical guidance to help airlines identify and replace any defective parts without issuing emergency orders, which are reserved for the most urgent cases.
Editor en Aviacionline. Especializado en Aviación Comercial / Aviación en Argentina. 45 años de periodista, y contando.
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