Italian prosecutors have charged seven people and two companies with fraud and violating safety rules in an investigation into suspected defective plane parts made by an Italian company for Boeing.
Prosecutors launched their investigation in late 2021 after Boeing complained that some parts supplied for the 787 Dreamliner planes had been improperly manufactured by the company.
Investigators say two subcontractors from the Italian city of Brindisi used cheaper forms of titanium and aluminum to produce poor-quality aircraft parts, “with consequences for aviation safety,” prosecutors said.
The accused will now have time to present new evidence in their defense before prosecutors decide whether to ask the judge for a trial.
There are many concerns about the safety of Boeing aircraft. After a plane lost a door panel shortly after takeoff in January, many reports emerged about quality control issues at the aircraft manufacturer.
