Boeing whistleblower fired after raising 787 Dreamliner safety errors
4 Min Read
A mechanic working for one of Boeing's contractor firms has been fired after reporting on construction mistakes that could jeopardize the aircraft's safety.
-
A Boeing ecoDemonstrator Explorer, a 787-10 Dreamliner, sits on the tarmac at their campus in North Charleston, S.C., May 30, 2023. (AP)
A mechanic working for Boeing's Storm contractor firm has been fired after submitting a complaint over flaws related to the construction of the 787 Dreamliner planes, CNN reported, citing the mechanic's lawyers.
Reportedly, Richard Cuevas, the mechanic at Storm, said he witnessed construction mistakes, such as incorrectly drilled holes in the aircraft's pressure bulkhead, while the 797 Dreamliner was being built in Boeing's Kansas facility in 2023. It is worth noting that the bulkhead is an essential part that guarantees the safety of the aircraft.
However, according to Boeing, an investigation probing Cuevas’ claims found no evidence related to construction errors. "Engineering analysis determined that the issues raised did not present a safety concern and were addressed," the aerospace company said, noting that the firm was reviewing the attorney’s documents and confirmed that any new claims would be looked into accordingly.
Currently, according to Reuters, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is exploring a criminal prosecution of aerospace giant Boeing for allegedly breaking the conditions of a 2021 settlement that exempted the corporation from penalties in connection with 346 fatal airplane accidents.
Prosecutors had urged senior DOJ officials to file charges against Boeing, citing anonymous sources. The decision on whether to prosecute the firm is coming on July 7.
According to a lawyer cited by The Independent in early June, around 50 former and current Boeing employees have filed a lawsuit against the company, seeking enhanced air safety measures despite the deaths of two whistleblowers who had raised concerns about Boeing's issues.
Coincidence?
This is not the first time a Boeing employee has submitted complaints about the alleged lack of safety measures entailing not only the 797 Dreamliners but other types of aircraft, such as the 737 Max.
In March, the New York Post reported that Boeing whistleblower John Barnett who is alleged to have died by suicide on March 9 has told friends that he could possibly end up killed after raising safety concerns about the company.
"If anything happens, it’s not suicide," he was quoted as saying by one of his close friends.
Barnett was found dead in a pickup truck in South Carolina on the exact same day he was due to conclude a closed-door testimony in a lawsuit against Boeing. The Charleston County coroner's office in South Carolina initially ruled that the 62-year-old died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. However, Barnett's friends, family, and lawyers believe otherwise.
Another Boeing whistleblower, Joshua Dean, 45, who was dismissed in April 2023 for accusing a Boeing supplier of disregarding 737 Max production flaws, died suddenly, as reported by The Seattle Times.
Dean had gotten MRSA, a rapidly spreading bacterial infection, and was hospitalized prior to his death. His aunt, Carol Parsons, published a Facebook post with a note from Dean's mother dated Monday, stating that his condition was deteriorating.
Her message detailed how his lungs were "totally whited out from infection," adding that he is "very depressed, frightened, and doing a lot of sleeping."
Dean filed a Labor Department lawsuit following his departure from Spirit last year, claiming he was sacked in retribution for voicing safety concerns. According to The Seattle Times, he said that mechanics were drilling holes in the Max's aft pressure bulkhead incorrectly and that management ignored his objections.
