The Boeing jet safety saga plays out like John Grisham and Stephen King paired up to write the ultimate Horror Legal Mystery Novel.
At the same time, the Boeing whistleblower deaths are stacking up at an Agatha Christie “And Then There Were None” rate.
At the center of this story is an antagonist worth $110 billion dollars, responsible for nearly half the global fleet of commercial planes.
The claim? Boeing puts profits over passenger safety. At the same time, Boeing continues to insist it operates “with safety and quality at the forefront of everything that we do.”
At the same time, I couldn’t even get through writing this section of the article with another investigation launched against Boeing, this time with the Dreamliner.
The evolving safety concerns around Boeing could impact anyone who gets on a flight in the near future.
Table of Contents
Is Boeing Too Big to Fail?
It helps to understand the behemoth presence Boeing has worldwide. If you’re taking a flight anytime soon, there’s about a 50/50 chance you’re on a Boeing plane.
Boeing is an aerospace industry leader split between three sectors:
- Commercial Airplanes: 43%
- Defense, Space & Security: 32%
- Global Services: 25%
Boeing states that 10,000 commercial planes are theirs. That’s almost half of all flights. Another 90% of Boeing planes are responsible for the global cargo business.
Boeing’s plans in service have three-digit names, known as the model series, from the 737 to the 787. Within each model series, updates can be added.
The concerns making headlines today focus on the 737 MAX models, specifically the MAX 8 and MAX 9. Oh, and now the Dreamliner.
You don’t have to be an economist to see how Boeing’s failure would nearly paralyze air and cargo transportation, send airfare prices through the roof, and severely limit the military prowess of the United States.
Boeing 737 MAX Problems
Three major issues with the Boeing MAX series plans have created worldwide safety concerns over the past few years.
- October 29, 2018: Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on board.
- March 10, 2019: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, also a Boeing 737 MAX 8, crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing all 157 people on board.
- January 5, 2024: Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a Boeing 737 MAX 9, lost a door plug after take-off at 16,000 feet, leaving a gaping hole in the plane with 171 people onboard. The plane landed safely 20 minutes after takeoff.
The two crashes focused on a flight control system that was new to the MAX 8. Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion in a fraud case to settle that matter.
“The tragic crashes… exposed fraudulent and deceptive conduct by employees of one of the world’s leading commercial airplane manufacturers,” Acting Assistant Attorney General David P. Burns of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said in 2021. “Boeing’s employees chose the path of profit over candor by concealing material information from the FAA.”
In late February 2024, the FAA dropped the gauntlet on Boeing – giving the company 90 days to make “real and profound improvements.”
On March 20, 2024, the CFO, Brian J. West, stated, “…we acknowledge that we need to improve upon safety and quality and conformance.”
A few days later, CEO Dave Calhoun announced he would step down at the end of the year.
Then, on May 6, 2024, the 787 Dreamliner fell under an FAA probe against Boeing. Why? According to the FAA report, “…it (Boeing) may not have completed the required inspections to confirm adequate bonding and grounding where the wings join the fuselage on certain 787 Dreamliner airplanes.”
The Whistleblowers
We know of at least a dozen whistleblowers who came forward with similar concerns about Boeing slacking on safety to push the production line forward.
Two of those whistleblowers have died in the past two months.
John Barnett
John Barnett dedicated his life’s work to Boeing’s safety. For the last seven years of his career, he was a quality manager in South Carolina.
He retired in 2017 and came forward in 2019, spilling shocking details of life on the quality control line.
“As a quality manager at Boeing… I haven’t seen a plane out of Charleston yet that I’d put my name on saying it’s safe and airworthy,” Barnett told the New York Times.
He also filed an AIR21 Whistleblower Complaint, which led to a deeper investigation into his claims.
During his final days, 67-year-old Barnett was in South Carolina for depositions.
When Barnett didn’t show up for the third day of testimony in March, worry set in.
His body was found in his truck with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Joshua Dean
Many people might not realize the importance of the aerospace industry in Wichita, Kansas.
For Joshua Dean, the business was in his blood. Both his father and his grandfather worked at Spirit Aerosystems, the main supplier of Boeing’s jet parts like the fuselage and wings.
Yes, the same company that made the fuselage with the door that blew off Alaska Airline 1282 mid-flight.
Dean was a quality auditor fired in April 2023. Spirit said it was because he didn’t flag a tail fin problem.
Dean says it was because he flagged an issue with improperly drilled holes – a problem that Boeing acknowledged in August 2023 – and that his firing was retaliation for addressing the defect.
“I think they were sending out a message… If you are too loud, we will silence you.” – Joshua Dean, as told to NPR.
His testimony is part of the Class Action Lawsuit against Spirit Aerosystems filed in December 2023, and his complaint to the Department of Labor for wrongful termination was still pending at the time of his death.
After a respiratory issue turned into a bacterial infection that took a grave turn. Dean died on April 30.
Coincidence or Conspiracy?
The two Boeing whistleblower deaths in two months might make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
In addition, a woman only giving the name Jennifer claims she spoke to Barnett about this very situation, and he said, “I’m not scared, but if anything happens to me, it’s not suicide.”
She went on to say, “I think someone didn’t like what he had to say, and they shut him up.”
Barnett’s attorneys said in a joint statement that Barnett “was in very good spirits and really looking forward to putting this phase of his life behind him and moving on.”
As for Dean, by all accounts, the 45-year-old was in good health. His mother wrote on Facebook that he was diagnosed with Influenza B, pneumonia, and MRSA.
However, the last report of influenza B in Kansas was on March 16, several weeks before Dean got sick. Whatever the infection was, it was too much for his body to handle.
Conspiracy theories now spread like wildfire – did Barnett and Dean face the ultimate punishment for blowing the whistle?
Or, were both facing unprecedented health challenges in the aftermath of sparking real change that could save countless lives?
Maybe there are such things as coincidences.
What we do know is that these men didn’t die in vain – their testimony is still on the record and being used in various investigations and lawsuits.
What You Should Know About Air Travel
Statistically, air travel is the safest of all forms. You are at a greater risk driving a car to the airport than taking a plane ride.
However, the stress of the Boeing safety problems might make you want to fly only Airbus for now.
You can read their flight safety statistics here. Most airline booking forms and third-party vendors allow you to search for the type of plane.
Simply avoid the Boeing 737 MAX for now if you’d like.
Are airlines worried? It doesn’t appear so. If you check out the media room of Boeing, you’ll see all the orders still being placed.
Boeing and American Airlines struck a deal for 150 737 MAX planes on March 4.
This story is far from over, and we’ve only scratched the surface here.
However, if this really were a Stephen King and John Grisham collab, Boeing officials would have to testify on an uninspected Boeing MAX-8 in flight.
Agent Johnson is the enigmatic mind behind the twisted tales and shadowy secrets of Crime and Conspiracy. With a penchant for all things mysterious, Agent Johnson covers true crime cases, unsolved mysteries, and conspiracy theories. Despite his seemingly endless knowledge of covert operations and clandestine affairs, Agent Johnson is quick to assure you that he definitely, absolutely, positively has no ties to the government.
So, after reading what Agent Johnson wrote, gotta say, Boeing’s situation seems more like a conspiracy rather than just unfortunate events. If you combine the whistleblowers’ testimonies with the MAX incidents, things don’t just add up to bad luck. Is it just me thinking this?
Not just you, the dots connect oddly. But, without solid proof, it’s just another theory. Still, you’ve got to wonder.
Interesting point! But let’s not forget all the technological advancements Boeing brought to aviation. Still, scrutiny is necessary.
This stuff about the whistleblowers, John Barnett and Joshua Dean, is kinda scary. I fly a lot for work. Should regular folks like us be worried about what’s going on with Boeing and these planes?
Reading Agent Johnson’s overview, I realized that the Boeing saga is more intricate than I thought. Whistleblowers pointing out issues is a significant red flag in the tech world, speaking as a gadget fan. How does Boeing’s tech compare with other companies like Airbus, especially around safety features?