Boeing pays $18 million to settle labor-overcharge suit
Boeing has paid $18 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that claimed it overcharged the government for labor on the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at its Long Beach Depot Center.
The U.S. Justice Department announced the payment Oct. 14.
Boeing had Air Force contracts to maintain and repair the giant transport aircraft in Long Beach. The government and a former employee claimed that from 2006 to 2013, Boeing improperly charged for time its mechanics spent at lunch and on breaks.
Boeing says it took “prompt corrective action” after learning of the irregular billing practice and cooperated with the government investigation.
Last fall, Boeing agreed to pay $23 million to settle similar allegations that it overcharged for Globemaster work at a center in San Antonio, Texas. AP
Turkish, Russian military in talks over airspace violation
Turkey’s military says a high-level Russian air force delegation has arrived in Ankara to discuss Russian jets’ violation of Turkey’s airspace.
A military statement said the delegation, led by Russia’s deputy air force commander, “shared information” Oct. 15 on the reasons for the two intrusions that happened earlier this month, as well as measures that Russia was taking to avoid further incidents.
The violations drew strong reaction from Turkey and its NATO allies.
Turkey has also strongly criticized Russia for targeting moderate rebels during the military campaign in Syria and warned Moscow risked harming trade ties with Ankara. AP
U.S. to place army equipment in Poland before July
Poland’s defense minister says he expects that heavy U.S. army equipment will be placed in the Central European nation before July, when Poland is to host a NATO summit.
Poland and other nations in the region that were once under Moscow’s domination feel threatened by Russia’s hostile actions in eastern Ukraine and have asked for permanent U.S. and NATO military presence on their territories as a deterrent.
Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said Oct. 15 that Warsaw and Washington want the equipment and supplies placed in warehouses at five Polish sites before July. The command and some 200 items of equipment would be placed in Ciechanow, in the northeast. Other sites include an air base in Lask, a test range in Drawsko Pomorskie, warehouses in Skwierzyna and a spare location in Choszczno. AP