Trevose man charged with Boeing helicopter vandalism (PA)

The Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | May 20, 2008 | Maria Panaritis

[jazusamo]

A Boeing Co. assembly line worker from Trevose was arrested today on charges of hacking wires on a $30 million Chinook helicopter being assembled at a Ridley Township plant last week. U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan announced the arrest today, about a week after damage was discovered on two of the new model Chinook CH-47F helicopters. The dual-rotor aircraft were still on the assembly line, and no damage was found to other models in production or already deployed.

Meehan's office identified the arrested man as Matthew K. Montgomery, 32, an employee for 18 months at the Boeing plant. Montgomery admitted that he damaged one of the aircraft he was working on, Meehan said. He was arrested yesterday while being interviewed by Defense Department investigators.

Meehan said the investigation into vandalism of the second Chinook continues. He said the focus of the investigation is that one or more Boeing employees were involved.

Boeing inspectors last Monday had discovered the hacked wires in one Chinook aircraft and a misplaced washer in another while they were on the assembly line. They quickly concluded that the damage was intentional and began an investigation.

Meehan said he would not speculate on a motive in the Montgomery case. According to an affidavit, Montgomery was told on Saturday, May 10 - two days before the damage was discovered - that he was being transferred to another assembly line at Boeing.

There may have been "some sense of lack of appreciation for the job he may have been doing," Meehan told reporters at a news conference.

Montgomery's specific role on the assembly line was unclear. Meehan said Montgomery, at some point, had requested the transfer to the assembly line for the V-22 Osprey, a different aircraft.

Meehan said the federal vandalism charge carries a fine of as much as $1,000 and as long as 10 years in prison. Montgomery was scheduled to appear before a federal judge today. Meehan said his office had not yet determined whether it would seek to keep Montgomery incarcerated.

The damage on the Chinooks - a key military workhorse and major product at Boeing - had rocked many workers at the plant, which employs about 5,200.

Officials from Meehan's office, Boeing and the U.S. Defense Department had offered a $5,000 reward at the plant last week for any information.

Meehan declined to say whether information from other workers, or routine investigations, led them to Montgomery. He did commend the public, Boeing employees and management for what he said was considerable cooperation in the investigation, and asked for continued help into the second case.

[Enchante]

V-22 is far different from the F-22, for sure!! But if they could just make the V-22 a stealthy aircraft that would be really useful for inserting troops into difficult situations..... maybe with an invisibility cloaking device, too!