Pentagon Opens Probe Into Boeing Jet Deal

The Pentagon is opening a formal investigation into allegations that a former Air Force official improperly gave Boeing Co. information about a competing bid on a military contract for aerial refueling jets that Boeing eventually won.

The Defense Department’s inspector general told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday that a preliminary inquiry uncovered “sufficient credible information” to begin a formal investigation of the $20-billion lease deal for 100 767 jetliners that would be converted into tankers.

In a surprise move two weeks ago, the committee postponed a vote on the deal.

Documents released this month reveal an April 2002 exchange between two Boeing executives about the deal. The exchange said Darleen Druyun, then the principal deputy assistant Air Force secretary for acquisition and management, had told Boeing that rival Airbus had submitted a bid $5 million to $17 million less per plane than Boeing’s offer.

Nine months later, Druyun joined Boeing. She now is deputy general manager of the company’s missile defense systems.

Boeing denied wrongdoing and offered to support the investigation.

“Boeing has said all along that we believe we received no proprietary information from any individual at any time on any subject throughout the entire tanker lease process. We have no reason to change that opinion,” the company said in a statement.

The AFL-CIO and International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers urged Congress to approve the leasing plan, which they said would support close to 30,000 jobs in dozens of states.

Shares of Boeing slipped 38 cents to $35.43 Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange.