12日，印度航空公司一架波音787-8“夢想客機”在起飛后不久墜毀，這架飛機也成為全球首架因空難全損的波音787型飛機，目前事故原因尚不清楚。

資料顯示，“夢想客機”由波音公司生產。多年來，多位吹哨人持續就該機型的安全問題發出警告。

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，波音公司美國南卡羅來納州北查爾斯頓的工廠被爆出787機型的生產過程存在大量安全隱患。

據在此擔任質量經理的“吹哨人”約翰·巴尼特向BBC揭露，為了追趕生產進度，承受巨大壓力的工人們“故意”在生產線上安裝不符合標準的零部件，甚至有些次品零件“被從廢料箱中撿回”裝到新飛機上。

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.

約翰·巴尼特 資料圖

巴尼特還表示，該工廠生產的787-8“夢想客機”的氧氣系統存在安全隱患，可能導致四分之一的應急呼吸面罩在緊急情況下失效。

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層反映這些擔憂，但未得到回應。退休后，巴尼特對波音公司提起了舉報人訴訟。

2024年3月8日，巴尼特被發現死在自己的車中，警方稱其似乎死于“一處自殘性槍傷”。離世前一周他正在為該訴訟案提供證據。

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，波音工程師兼“吹哨人”山姆·薩萊普爾（Sam Salehpour）也曾在2024年4月發出警告，指控組裝飛機的工人未能妥善填充分段制造的機身部件連接處的微小縫隙。

他的律師指出，這會導致飛機結構承受異常磨損，不僅縮短飛機壽命，更存在災難性失效的風險。

薩萊普爾因此呼吁波音應“全球停飛每一架787夢幻客機”。

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.

面對這些嚴重的指控，波音公司始終予以否認，并堅持聲稱“787是安全的”。

據了解，美國聯邦航空管理局（FAA）目前正在調查薩萊普爾的指控。

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

此次印度航空客機空難涉事的787-8型飛機于2013年12月14日首次飛行，并在2014年1月交付給印度航空，目前已經使用了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.

波音公司就此發表聲明稱：“我們正與印度航空聯系，隨時準備提供支持。我們的心與乘客、機組人員、救援人員及所有受影響的人們同在。”

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.”

據美國股價走勢表顯示，波音公司12日股價在美股盤前交易中下跌8%。

編輯：左卓

來源：印度時報 BBC 環球時報

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