New Whistleblowers Say ‘Boeing Is Producing Ticking Timebombs’

Recent whistleblowers at Boeing and its subcontractors raise concerns about airplane safety, following the deaths of two colleagues who spoke out.

Following the unexpected deaths of two of their colleagues who had also gone public, whistleblowers at Boeing and one of its subcontractors continue to express their worries about airplane safety.

So far, at least three have made their public debuts. Others who are worried about the manufacturing of both military and civilian aircraft are considering the consequences of raising their voices.

According to a statement from Boeing, all accusations of improper labor or unethical activity are taken “very seriously.” The allegations are not new, the company added.

“We continuously encourage employees to report concerns as our priority is to ensure the safety of our airplanes and the flying public, and we will take any necessary action to ensure our airplanes meet regulatory requirements,” a company spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “Boeing employees can anonymously report concerns through our Speak Up portal or directly to the FAA.”

Earlier this year, two whistleblowers who had spoken out against the aerospace company perished in unrelated instances.

According to Charleston, South Carolina, authorities, John Barnett, 62, shot himself in the head in his pickup not long after providing deposition testimony in his whistleblower lawsuit against the corporation.

Additionally, 44-year-old Joshua Dean passed away last month from an infection that was resistant to antibiotics and devastated his lungs. He was employed at Spirit AeroSystems, a supplier to Boeing.

Dean said he was dismissed only for speaking out when he filed a retaliation lawsuit with federal labor regulators after losing his job in 2023. During his deposition for a shareholder case, he revealed potentially hazardous flaws in parts of Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft, which has been connected to several tragedies in the past several years.

Several current and former Boeing employees have come forward in recent months, and their attorneys, Brian Knowles and Rob Turkewitz have applauded their clients for speaking out.

Another Spirit AeroSystems worker, Santiago Paredes, claimed last month on “Fox & Friends First” that he was under pressure from his supervisors to “falsify information” on 737 aircraft flaws. He told the New York Post in a different interview that he encountered resistance on hundreds of problems, such as unfinished frame assemblies and missing or damaged parts.

Paredes’ assertions have been refuted by Spirit AeroSystems.

Additionally, Roy Irvin, a coworker of Barnett’s who was employed at the South Carolina plant, told the Post that he discovered issues almost daily, such as loose bolts and missing safety devices.

“If the fastener is not secured correctly, it’s going to fall off and you’re not gonna be able to control the airplane,” he told the paper.

Boeing said on Wednesday that it had received and reviewed many of Irvin’s allegations.

According to the Seattle Times, another whistleblower, Boeing engineer Martin Bickeboller, had two allegations from 2014 validated by the Federal Aviation Administration. He filed a fresh one in January, claiming the business had neglected to implement improvements mandated by the government.

Before his passing, Barnett claimed to have brought up the matter with management after learning about it while employed at Boeing’s North Charleston facility in 2010 but to no result. His lawyers claim that the corporation retaliated against him and created a hostile work environment, which is what led to the lawsuit for which he was being removed, rather than addressing the issue.

In 2017, the Federal Aviation Administration examined Boeing, confirming certain of Barnett’s claims and directing the corporation to take appropriate steps. A 737-9 Max door that flew open in mid-flight was among the isolated events that the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission launched its probe last month.

Last week, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker spoke with a Senate committee about Boeing’s continuous difficulties. The government has requested that Boeing strengthen its management of suppliers by implementing internal audits and safety inspectors at Spirit AeroSystems sites, among other measures.

“On the FAA’s part, we will make sure they do and that their fixes are effective,” he said in a statement afterward. “This does not mark the end of our increased oversight of Boeing and its suppliers, but it sets a new standard of how Boeing does business.”

Dave Calhoun, CEO of Boeing, and he had a private meeting.

“I made clear once again that we need to see a strong and unwavering commitment to safety, which must always come first,” Whitaker said. “Systemic change isn’t easy but in this case is absolutely necessary, and the work is never really done when it comes to the safety of the flying public – from Boeing, airlines, or the FAA.”

Calhoun had declared earlier in the year that he would resign. In the aftermath, several executives are departing the firm, including the head of the 737 Max program, as well as board members.

Recently, GreatGameIndia reported that, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s notification, 300 Boeing 777s used by United and American Airlines are at risk of exploding fuel tanks.