Seattle, Washington – In a series of incidents from January to May 2024, Boeing planes have faced a range of problems. These issues include a door plug falling off a Boeing 737 Max 9 mid-flight, causing a flight from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California to experience an emergency. Additionally, a gear collapse led to a 737 Max 8 sliding down a Houston runway, while a wheel detachment from a Boeing 777-200 after takeoff in San Francisco resulted in damage to parked cars.
The troubles facing Boeing are not limited to these incidents. In January 2021, the company was charged by the Department of Justice with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Since then, 32 whistleblowers have come forward with complaints about the company, with two of them having tragically lost their lives. Amidst these challenges, the Boeing conspiracy continues to unravel, shedding light on potential issues within the company.
The unraveling of the Boeing conspiracy starts with the story of John Barnett. A former quality control manager at a Boeing plant in North Charleston, Barnett raised concerns about faulty parts being deliberately fitted to planes on the production line. Despite bringing these concerns to management, Barnett was met with little response from the company. After leaving Boeing and pursuing legal action, Barnett was found deceased in a hotel car park, shedding light on the potential consequences faced by whistleblowers in the aviation industry.
Following Barnett’s tragic fate, another whistleblower, Joshua Dean, met a similar end. Dean, who worked as an auditor at a Boeing factory in Wichita, Kansas, was dismissed after flagging improperly drilled holes in fuselages. Just a year after his termination, Dean passed away after falling critically ill from a MRSA bacterial infection. Both Barnett and Dean’s stories highlight the challenges faced by individuals speaking out against corporate wrongdoing in the aviation industry.
Attorney for the whistleblowers, Brian Knowles, underlined the importance of encouraging and incentivizing individuals who raise concerns within aviation companies. As the Boeing conspiracy continues to unfold, the bravery of whistleblowers like Barnett and Dean serves as a reminder of the risks involved in shedding light on potential issues within major corporations.