Francesca Landini & Tim Hepher

MILAN, Reuters – A preliminary report of Italian prosecutors shows that an Italian supplier in the middle of the recent industrial snags relating to the 787 Dreamliner aircraft produced over 4,000 noncompliant parts destined Boeing (NYSE:) Co. Over five years.

The document states that the initial results of an earlier year investigation suggest Manufacturing Process Specification, or Processi Speciali’s now bankrupt predecessor, manufactured flawed parts in 2016-2021.

The report by Reuters states that the titanium components were found in 35 Boeing 787 fuselages.

The supplier, which was based in Brindisi, also produced parts for the Boeing 767 freighter model. This is also the base for an American Air Force tanker.

Boeing denies that MPS and its predecessor produced any components that might pose a danger to safety in the air.

Boeing refused to comment directly on the document of the prosecutors. Parts of it were reported first by Il Corriere del Mezzogiorno. The company reiterated however that its airworthiness was not affected.

A spokesperson stated that “While our assessment continues, this doesn’t present an immediate safety concern for flight.”

Boeing stated that parts for 787 Dreamliners supplied by MPS had not been properly manufactured during the past three years. It was just the latest in a long list of industrial failures that have impacted the airliner.

Leonardo of Italy was the first customer for MPS parts. It declined to comment.

Antonio Ingrosso was the ex-MPS chief executive. A lawyer representing Processi Speciali’s former chief executive, Processi Speciali (now bankrupt), also declined comment.

U.S. Air Force didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment about whether any suspect parts were found on its 767-based KC-46 tanksers. The first tanker was delivered in 2019.

DOORFRAME

After Italian prosecutors demanded the seizing of parts for Boeing 787s at a Leonardo factory in Grottaglie in southern Italy, this report came out days later.

MPS was sub-supplier to Leonardo for the two sections of 787 fuselage, also known as Sections 44 and 46.

The report stated that MPS/Processi Speciali manufactured 4,189 parts from “titanium- and aluminum-ofdifferent quality and origin”. This was in breach of relevant technical specifications.

It produced parts using “grade 2” titanium instead of a Titan alloy. They also said that the used metal had “mechanical strength and structural properties far less than the alloy.”

A clip was included in the damaged parts, according to the document. It is for the left-side cargo doors of the 787. The document did not give details about any parts that were suspect for an older 767.

Prosecutors say MPS selected non-compliant and cheaper materials to cut costs, speed up production, and reduce safety margins.

The investigation into fraud, as well as actions that threaten the safety of air travel, has led to eight people being investigated, one of which was the head of Processi Speciali and one of the MPS former heads.

The prosecution has stated that the companies are under investigation. Prosecutors view Leonardo as the injures party after he filed suit Dec. 7.

According to another court document, MPS’s assets and its factory will go up for sale in the first quarter of 2019, as Processi Speciali winds down.

Respondents to requests for comments from the administrators for both companies have not responded.

Prosecutors stated on Saturday that initial findings suggest MPS and Processi Speciali used metals not compliant with technical specifications and misrepresented their intentions. They didn’t respond to Reuters requests for comment regarding the specifics of their preliminary report.