Possible sabotage at Boeing helicopter plant

Yesterday, Boeing shut down production at the Ridley Park plant where CH-47 Chinook helicopters are assembled:

WASHINGTON - Army criminal investigators are looking into damage to two military helicopters on a production line at a Boeing Co. plant in suburban Philadelphia, prompting the company to shut down the line.

Rep. Joe Sestak, a Democrat whose district includes the plant, said Wednesday he was told that wires that appeared to be broken or severed were found in one helicopter and a suspicious washer was found in a second.

My sources (fair reliability, better than 60%) tell me that the "wires" were an entire wire harness, and the washer was more than one. The wire harness was apparently in an area where accidental breakage is highly improbable, and the washers were placed in an area where the only way they could have gotten there has to be planned and deliberate. I have a few more details but I'm waiting for confirmation before passing them on. However, I will share that at no time was there any danger of defective aircraft being delivered to the Army - Each and every aircraft is inspected thoroughly and passes a rigorous flight test regime before delivery. Additionally, these helicopters are put together the old fashioned way - by hand. That means lots of eyes on each aircraft each day, and chances are good that these problems would have been discovered outside of any quality process. I know many of these folks personally, and they take a great deal of pride in what they do.

Boeing sent home over 100 production workers yesterday, and todays production crew, including evening shifts, were told to remain home save for a minimal crew to assist in inspecting the other 6 aircraft on the assembly line.

As to a motive (should this be determined to be deliberate), there are several possibilities I can think of:

• Disgruntled employee - the most likely cause in my opinion. Someone who's been under fire at work recently may have decided to "get even".
• Corporate sabotage - Boeing is in a battle with Lockheed and Sikorsky over a $15 billion contract for USAF aircraft called CSAR, for Combat Search and Rescue. Boeing initially won the contract but the award has been tied up by numerous challenges to the government from the losers. One of the reasons Boeing initially won was low risk, a series of "mishaps" could certainly cast a shadow over that advantage.
• Domestic dissident - Chinook aircraft are, after all, military aircraft. There are a number of our own citizens who hold the administration, the military, and the war in contempt. Not everyone who works in the defense industry is a Republican.

I think the likelihood of international espionage is small, as this is a manufacturing site with the type of security you'd expect at a defense contractor. They don't do tours or allow unscreened visitors.

I have a personal interest in this one, so I'll be watching closely and let you know what develops.