Italian prosecutors have accused seven individuals and two sub-contractors of crimes including fraud and breaching aviation safety regulations, following an investigation into suspected flawed parts produced for Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The investigation, launched in late 2021 after Boeing reported improper manufacturing practices, revealed that two Italian sub-contractors supplied non-compliant titanium and aluminium components. These materials were of inferior quality, resulting in parts with significantly lower static and stress resistance, potentially impacting the safety of the aircraft.
Prosecutors in the southern city of Brindisi stated that the sub-contractors used cheaper materials to reduce raw material costs, without naming the companies or individuals involved. However, sources familiar with the matter identified the firms as former Leonardo supplier Manufacturing Process Specification (MPS) and its bankrupt predecessor, Processi Speciali. MPS owner Antonio Ingrosso and his father Vincenzo, former head of Processi Speciali, are among the seven people accused.
The Ingrossos’ lawyer asserted that the men are “convinced that they have acted respecting fully the law.” The accused parties will have the opportunity to present new evidence before prosecutors decide whether to proceed to trial.
Aerospace experts assisting the investigation certified at least 4,829 non-compliant titanium components and 1,158 aluminium parts. The flawed parts could, over time, pose risks to aircraft safety, necessitating Boeing to initiate an extraordinary maintenance campaign for the affected planes.
Boeing and Italian aerospace group Leonardo, identified as victims of the alleged crimes, have cooperated fully with the investigation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
