Boeing jet loses parts of the wing in flight!

[tggzzz]

And of course, this...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Baghdad_DHL_attempted_shootdown_incident

Total loss of hydraulic control, aircraft landed more or less intact with a hole in the wing (they went off the edge of the runway due to a slight loss of control at the end, but it's close enough!)

But, that said, I suspect if you combined hydraulic loss with a significant change to the aircraft's handling/aerodynamics, it's a goner, no matter how skilled your pilots are. Especially because any wing structure failure is likely to lead to loss of an engine or at least the control of that engine.

That's a new one to me.

This is fairly well known:
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/news/a27584/b-52-landed-without-a-tail-fin/

[MT]

There have been several B52 incidents later discovered due to bad engineering like the fin loss so they changed the fuselage design.

[RJSV]

   Sincerely, in 'most' countries that would be called what it is;   Wing disintegration.   But still, I could somehow image myself, as Cabin Attendant in, say, Latvia, literally SHRUGGING IT OFF, while glancing briefly out the cabin window.
   "A little flap damage, not getting worse...WING is OK.".       And the plane takes off, on next leg of journey.   

   Not good, obviously, but that kind of moronic state of relaxation does happen, shockingly.

[tggzzz]

   Sincerely, in 'most' countries that would be called what it is;   Wing disintegration.   But still, I could somehow image myself, as Cabin Attendant in, say, Latvia, literally SHRUGGING IT OFF, while glancing briefly out the cabin window.
   "A little flap damage, not getting worse...WING is OK.".       And the plane takes off, on next leg of journey.   

   Not good, obviously, but that kind of moronic state of relaxation does happen, shockingly.

The last thing you want is a cabin attendant freaking out "OMG, we're all going to die".

I have known a club where they had to jump-start their powered aircraft at the end of the from a car. Not unreasonably, a response was shrugged shoulders and "it is only the engine; what's the problem?".

It was a gliding club, so engine failures and forced landings were normal. If you couldn't handle them you wouldn't go solo.

[tooki]

   Sincerely, in 'most' countries that would be called what it is;   Wing disintegration.   But still, I could somehow image myself, as Cabin Attendant in, say, Latvia, literally SHRUGGING IT OFF, while glancing briefly out the cabin window.
   "A little flap damage, not getting worse...WING is OK.".       And the plane takes off, on next leg of journey.   

   Not good, obviously, but that kind of moronic state of relaxation does happen, shockingly.

Why rag on Latvia, which was one of the technical focal points of the USSR, and is a modern, reasonably prosperous country today. On the Human Development Index, Latvia is closer to the USA than USA is to the #1 ranked country (Switzerland)…

(Disclaimer: my last boyfriend was Latvian!)

[RJSV]

   Thanks for the correction; mainly my ignorance, plus I figured maybe no one from there, or only a few.
   A Latvian grabbed a former girlfriend, (but we had already split up).   Still, there's that instinctive dis-like, regardless of better common sense.
   (She dropped him, too, later, lol).
Ce la Vie !

[Homer J Simpson]

Boeing whistleblower found dead in US

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-68534703

[SiliconWizard]

That doesn't look good.

[tom66]

Disturbing twist.  Might have been nothing, but it seems very odd.  Was in the middle of legal proceedings and then he's found dead in his truck.

[Gyro]

Or the emotional cost of whistleblowing against Boeing. I hope the police investigation comes up with something thorough and conclusive.

I had completely forgotten about the 25% oxygen generator failure rate episode - the list is too long!

[SiliconWizard]

To be "fair", when you have worked in a company in a heavily-regulated field, it's pretty rare if you haven't witnessed at least once some disturbing shortcuts and sweeping stuff under the carpet.
What you'll do when that happens is entirely up to you, but if you start opening your mouth, even just inside the company's walls, you are likely to become a target.

[Homer J Simpson]

Wheel loss update and recent central hydraulic system failure  information.

[Homer J Simpson]

Loose Rocker Switch Cap Injures 50

[wraper]

   Sincerely, in 'most' countries that would be called what it is;   Wing disintegration.   But still, I could somehow image myself, as Cabin Attendant in, say, Latvia, literally SHRUGGING IT OFF, while glancing briefly out the cabin window.
   "A little flap damage, not getting worse...WING is OK.".       And the plane takes off, on next leg of journey.   

   Not good, obviously, but that kind of moronic state of relaxation does happen, shockingly.

FYI the only Latvian airline is state owned Airbaltic (EDIT: if you wonder why only one, Latvian population is <2 million). Airbaltic never had a crash in its 25 year history. It has the Europe’s second youngest fleet of 47 all-Airbus A220-300 that is one the safest aircraft that had zero accidents. My former colleague is a pilot at Airbaltic, he was first studying here and then more than a year in Florida, US, financed by the company.

[wraper]

Disturbing twist.  Might have been nothing, but it seems very odd.  Was in the middle of legal proceedings and then he's found dead in his truck.

Found dead in his truck in parking lot of a hotel he stayed at. With a hole in his head and a gun in his hand. He was going to testify that day. People who knew him say that he said if he's found dead, it's not suicide.
https://nypost.com/2024/03/14/us-news/boeing-whistleblower-john-barnett-didnt-seem-depressed-on-night-before-alleged-suicide-sources/

[SiliconWizard]

If it's not suicide, I have a couple ideas regarding how the guys behind that should be dealt with.

[tom66]

Certainly stinks.  One hopes the motel/hotel has CCTV that wasn't mysteriously erased, but chances are this is a professional job, if it is one.

I'm not normally one for conspiracy theories but it's very odd when someone who seems to otherwise be mentally well and competent, who is involved in a high-pressure trial (a path he has picked: he is not defending himself), to just end it like that. 

It's certainly not impossible it's suicide - and I suppose that doubt does create enough uncertainty to make it plausible - but it sure seems odd.

[wraper]

LOL, https://nypost.com/2024/03/15/us-news/boeing-737-loses-external-panel-mid-flight/
Boeing 737-800 loses external panel mid-flight

[tom66]

It's just dynamic weight shedding to save fuel; the aircraft landed safely without that part so what are you complaining about?  Boeing's quality and innovation never ceases, even well after their planes are delivered.

[BrianHG]

[EEVblog]

LOL, https://nypost.com/2024/03/15/us-news/boeing-737-loses-external-panel-mid-flight/
Boeing 737-800 loses external panel mid-flight

Too busy making TikToks?
https://www.tiktok.com/@united/video/7243901326441106730?lang=en

[VK3DRB]

Boeing whistleblower found dead in US

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-68534703

Notice "self inflicted" was in quotes. Boeing puts profit ahead of safety. It is quite possible there was a contract out on him.

[SiliconWizard]

I'm seeing more and more "whistleblowers" getting medical certificates to prove they are in perfect health, both physical and mental.
Just a thought, for those who have something inconvenient to say.

[tom66]

I'm seeing more and more "whistleblowers" getting medical certificates to prove they are in perfect health, both physical and mental.
Just a thought, for those who have something inconvenient to say.

If a whistleblower really wants to be safe they should agree with a lawyer to release the encryption key to an archive that is publicly available in the event of their death.

Within that archive could contain everything they were prepared to document and release.

The loss of the archive isn't an issue, given the archive is publicly available beforehand in encrypted form.

Keeping the key with a trusted third party who remains anonymous until the release date creates additional security.

There should not be any particular risk to the lawyer since they are just releasing a 128-bit number which happens to decrypt that archive on the instruction of their now-deceased client.  They did not create the archive, they just released the password to access it.

[jpanhalt]

@wraper
If that's a picture of where the missing panel came off, notice that the quarter turn fasteners ("zeus fasteners") are still attached to the bulkhead.  Those Phillips head parts should be attached to the panel, not where they are.  That implies that they pulled through the panel -- perhaps due to excessive wear.

The way the aft skin is bent, it might have interfered with a down elevator, but I suspect the normal control on that airplane would not have been impeded much.  Binding in the elevator is not good in any event.

I had assumed from the news that it was simply a missing inspection panel that had not been fastened properly.