MILAN (Reuters) – Italian prosecutors on Saturday accused seven folks and two sub-contractors of crimes together with fraud and breaching airplane security guidelines following an investigation into suspected flawed components produced by an Italian firm for Boeing (NYSE:).
The prosecutors launched their investigation in late 2021 after Boeing stated some components for its 787 Dreamliner aircraft provided by an organization working for Italian aerospace group Leonardo had been improperly manufactured.
Investigators discovered that two Italian sub-contractors used cheaper and non-compliant types of titanium and aluminium to make sure components, saving important sums of cash on their uncooked materials prices, the prosecutors stated in an announcement, with out naming the sub-contractors or the seven folks.
“This resulted in the realisation of airplane parts with significantly lower static and stress resistance characteristics, with repercussions on aviation safety,” the prosecutors within the southern metropolis of Brindisi stated.
Aerospace specialists working with prosecutors licensed not less than 4,829 non-compliant elements made from titanium and 1,158 made from aluminium, they stated.
“The expert work and investigations concluded that some non-compliant structural components could, in the long run, create harm to the safety of the aircraft, requiring the U.S. company to initiate an extraordinary maintenance campaign of the aircraft involved,” they stated, including Boeing and Leonardo have been victims of the alleged crimes and had cooperated with the probe.
The seven folks and two sub-contractors will now be given time to current any new proof of their defence, earlier than the prosecutors resolve whether or not to request a decide to name a trial.
Leonardo declined to remark. Boeing stated it will remark sooner or later.
