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The world’s largest aerospace company has been accused of “brazenly stealing and misusing” intellectual property, causing leaks on the International Space Station and putting the lives of astronauts at risk.

According to a US Federal lawsuit filed by Wilson Aerospace, and seen by Sky News, Boeing engaged in fraud and subsequent cover-up over many years to generate company profits.

In response, Boeing told Sky News the lawsuit was “rife with inaccuracies and omissions”.

Wilson Aerospace says it was contracted by Boeing between 2014 and 2016 to provide a solution for safely attaching engines to the Space Launch System (SLS), the rocket that will be used by NASA to return humans to the moon.

But, according to the Colorado-based company, after providing designs for a unique torque wrench, Boeing terminated the contract and produced versions that were “critically deficient in quality and performance.”

It added that use of the “mismatched” tools was believed to have caused or contributed to dangerous leaks that delayed the launch of the SLS rocket.

Alleged ‘theft’ of tool designs

Wilson and Boeing had collaborated over many years on several big space projects, including the International Space Station (ISS).

Wilson invented a series of tools designed to tighten fittings to precise specifications that were approved by NASA to avoid unnecessary damage to spacecraft and the potential for dangerous leaks of toxic or explosive fluids.

The lawsuit alleges Boeing’s “theft” of designs for tools used by astronauts to install equipment on the ISS, including part of the life support system and an airlock.

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It says frequent use of the ‘FFTD-1’ tool “in a manor non-conforming with its original design” led to trapped fittings, with a nut becoming distorted and fixed in place.

It claims Boeing had changed the design of the tool to increase the torque, resulting in over-tightening of fittings.

The lawsuit claims Boeing subsequently blamed leaks on Wilson’s tool design.

David Wilson, president and founder of Wilson Aerospace, said: “Boeing has not only stolen our intellectual property and damaged our company’s reputation but has used the technology incorrectly and at the expense of astronauts’ safety, which is beyond despicable.

“I hope that this lawsuit will put a stop to Boeing’s repeated practice of prioritising its own profits over safety.”

‘Endangered astronauts’

Wilson Aerospace claims Boeing orchestrated a cover-up, expunging all records showing any relationship between the companies.

Peter Flowers, partner at the law firm Meyers & Flowers, which is representing Wilson Aerospace, said: “Boeing’s brazen theft is illustrative of a large corporation leveraging its unchecked power to squash out a small family-owned and operated business.

“The Wilsons have a storied history in aviation and Boeing once again has shown that they will act deceptively to take advantage of smaller suppliers, like Wilson, by stealing and infringing on sensitive intellectual property.

“Boeing’s choices have endangered astronauts, all in the name of a larger bottom line.”

Wilson is seeking damages from Boeing for use of its “trade secrets”.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Boeing said: “This lawsuit is rife with inaccuracies and omissions.

“We will vigorously defend against this in court.”

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Elon Musk steps up attacks on Trump once again – as the president fights back

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Elon Musk steps up attacks on Trump once again - as the president fights back

Elon Musk has stepped up his attacks on Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill – weeks after a spectacular fallout between the world’s richest man and the US president.

Following weeks of relative silence after clashing with Mr Trump over his “big beautiful bill”, the billionaire vowed to unseat politicians who support it.

In a post on X, Musk said those who had campaigned on cutting spending but then backed the bill “should hang their heads in shame”.

He added: “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”

Musk also threatened to put their faces on a poster which said “liar” and “voted to increase America’s debt” by $5trn (£3.6trn).

The posts attracted a swift reply from Mr Trump, who claimed the billionaire “may get more subsidy than any human being in history” for his electric car business.

“Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”

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Elon’s dad on the Musk-Trump bust-up

Musk spent at least $250m (£182m) supporting Mr Trump in his presidential campaign and then led the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which sacked about 120,000 federal employees.

He has argued the legislation would greatly increase the US national debt and wipe out the savings he claimed he achieved through DOGE.

As the Senate discussed the package, Musk called it “utterly insane and destructive”.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO said the bill’s massive spending indicated “we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!”

“Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people,” he wrote.

Read more from Sky News:
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Musk previously said some of his social media posts during his dramatic fallout with Mr Trump “went too far”.

He had shared a series of posts on X, including one that described Mr Trump’s tax and spending bill as a “disgusting abomination”.

He also claimed, in a since-deleted post, that the president appeared in files relating to the disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

But Musk later wrote: “I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”

In response, the president told the New York Post: “I thought it was very nice that he did that.”

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What’s in Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’?

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What's in Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill'?

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Martha Kelner and Mark Stone break down what’s in Donald Trump’s huge tax and spending bill. He’s trying to sign it into law by the end of the week.

They also discuss the State Department’s decision to revoke US visas for British band Bob Vylan after their Glastonbury performance.

If you’ve got a question you’d like the Trump100 team to answer, you can email it to trump100@sky.uk.

You can also watch all episodes on our YouTube channel.

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Benjamin Netanyahu to meet Donald Trump next week amid calls for Gaza ceasefire

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Benjamin Netanyahu to meet Donald Trump next week amid calls for Gaza ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be meeting Donald Trump next Monday, according to US officials.

The visit on 7 July comes after Mr Trump suggested it was possible a ceasefire in Gaza could be reached within a week.

On Sunday, he wrote on social media: “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!”

At least 60 people killed across Gaza on Monday, in what turned out to be some of the heaviest attacks in weeks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, with US President Donald Trump. Pic: Reuters
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Benjamin Netanyahu, left, with Donald Trump during a previous meeting. Pic: Reuters

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, 56,500 people have been killed in the 20-month war.

The visit by Mr Netanyahu to Washington has not been formally announced and the officials who said it would be going ahead spoke on condition of anonymity.

An Israeli official in Washington also confirmed the meeting next Monday.

More on Benjamin Netanyahu

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration was in constant communication with the Israeli government.

She said Mr Trump viewed ending the war in Gaza and returning remaining hostages held by Hamas as a top priority.

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The war in Gaza broke out in retaliation for Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attacks on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw a further 250 taken hostage.

An eight-week ceasefire was reached in the final days of Joe Biden’s US presidency, but Israel resumed the war in March after trying to get Hamas to accept new terms on next steps.

Talks between Israel and Hamas have stalled over whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire.

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