Italy woke up to a high-flying scandal this weekend as prosecutors accused seven individuals and two aerospace subcontractors of cutting corners on Boeing 787 Dreamliner parts—putting aviation safety at risk. 🔍 The case, which reads like a real-life aviation thriller, centers on alleged fraud and unsafe manufacturing practices involving non-compliant materials. 🛠️
Prosecutors in Brindisi revealed that cheaper titanium and aluminum were used to make critical components, slashing raw material costs but compromising the parts' strength and durability. 💸 “This could harm aircraft safety over time,” officials warned, sparking an extraordinary maintenance campaign by Boeing to inspect affected planes. 🔧
The investigation, launched in 2021 after Boeing flagged irregularities, reportedly implicates former Leonardo suppliers Manufacturing Process Specification (MPS) and Processi Speciali. The firms’ owners, Antonio and Vincenzo Ingrosso, are among those under scrutiny—though their lawyer insists they “acted fully within the law.” ⚖️
With over 5,987 faulty components identified, the case highlights vulnerabilities in global supply chains. 🌐 Boeing and Leonardo, labeled victims in the probe, have cooperated with authorities—but travelers might be eyeing their next flight a little differently. ✈️
