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Boeing investigates intentional wire sabotage of B737s at assembly plant

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Boeing investigates intentional wire sabotage of B737s at assembly plant

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Old 7th Jun 2001, 23:09
  #1 (permalink)  
DISCOKID
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Post Boeing investigates intentional wire sabotage of B737s at assembly plant

This is a very sick way for an employee to express dissatisfaction with the company - full marks to Boeing for spotting it.


RENTON, Wash. (CNN) - Boeing Co. inspectors have discovered intentional wire damage on at least seven Boeing 737s at a company assembly plant in Renton, Wash., the company confirmed to CNN Thursday.

The damage was found during routine service testing over the past two weeks. Boeing says it notified the FAA of the sabotage Tuesday. The company also said an additional three aircraft also may have had sabotaged wiring, but evidence is not conclusive.

A 737 jet is assembled at the Boeing plant in Renton, Wash. The company is investigating sabotage of wiring on 7 jets under construction there.

There are no suspects at this time.

"No airplane is delivered until it has met rigorous testing starting with Boeing, the FAA, and the airlines," spokesman Sandy Angers told CNN. "The fact that we found the damaged wires proves our quality system works."

The Federal Aviation Administration said it is looking into the matter, but could not elaborate on details.

Boeing employs about 12,000 people at the Renton plant, where the narrow-body 737 jet is assembled along with the 757, another narrow-body jet, and the Boeing business jet.

The world's largest aircraft manufacturer announced in March that some of the 757 assembly work now done in the Renton plant would be shifted to its plant in Wichita, Kan., although the fuselages of the planes will still be shipped by rail from Wichita back to Renton for final assembly.

About 500 workers at the Renton plant are affected by the shift of work, which is to take place over the next two to three years, although the company said all the employees would be shifted to other jobs with the company and there would be no layoffs as a result of the shift.

The company is cutting jobs in the area, though, as it shifts its corporate headquarters to Chicago this summer. About half of the 1,000-person corporate staff will be cut in the move, with the other half relocating. That move shook the Seattle area, which has been associated with the company since its founding.

Last year the company saw a surprisingly bitter strike by the engineering and technical workers who inspect aircraft during and at the end of the assembly process. The strike, the first by the union to last more than a day, won support of many employees who performed the same jobs but did not belong to the union.
 
Old 8th Jun 2001, 01:34
  #2 (permalink)  
what_the_hell_was_that?
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Wink

What about questioning the moustached bloke that cycles to the factory everyday on his rickety old bike dressed in his beige overcoat, beret and with a string of onions around his neck?

I guess he’ll just shrug his shoulders and roll his eyes skywards…..

By the way, why don’t they eat many eggs in France?
Because to the French one egg is un oeuf (enough) Gettit?
 
Old 8th Jun 2001, 08:11
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411A
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Tampering with an aircraft can result in 20 years in the Federal slammer and/or $150,000 fine. One guy was arraigned in Phoenix Arizona last year and is still awaiting trial, with no bail allowed. The Federal Courts are up to their ears in illegals, at least in the southwest. Green "meat" sandwiches and pink underwear courtesy of sheriff Joe. Wonder if its the same in Seattle?
 
Old 8th Jun 2001, 09:04
  #4 (permalink)  
lame
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Arrow

Sadly it is not the first time, happened at least once before on the 767 line at the main plant back in the early 80's, was believed to be a disgruntled employee then too.


------------------
"I USED to be a PPRuNaholic, but now I'm CURED"
 
Old 8th Jun 2001, 09:14
  #5 (permalink)  
Ignition Override
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411A- pretty good! Read about the sheriff on tv, and his guests who sleep in tents under the Arizona moon. Very good description.

Also, do dozens of technicians have easy access to the problem Boeing wiring? I still wish we had a choice between a 737 (where most switches have very predictable functions) and a competitor's products, where various wiring goes to various computers, and flipping one switch can have very complex system interactions, according to its pilots. Woops, RPGs headed this way!
 

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