News Brief
While US Preaches India On Targeted Killings, Yet Another Boeing Whistleblower Dies Mysteriously
A Boeing 737 Max (Steve Lynes/Wikimedia Commons)
Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, died at the age of 45 reportedly due to a sudden and fast-spreading infection.
Dean, who had previously raised concerns about Spirit leadership potentially ignoring critical manufacturing flaws in Boeing's 737 MAX planes, died on Wednesday (1 May) after experiencing severe breathing difficulties two weeks ago, and undergoing intensive medical treatment, including the use of an ECMO machine.
Dean's death comes shortly after the suicide of John Barnett, another Boeing whistleblower, who died two months earlier.
Barnett had been involved in a lawsuit concerning alleged retaliation for his disclosure of safety issues with Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.
In April 2023, Dean was fired from Spirit AeroSystems, a decision he attributed to his whistleblowing on critical safety concerns, specifically highlighting improperly drilled holes in the aft pressure bulkhead of the 737 MAX. This component is essential for maintaining cabin pressure.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths of Dean and Barnett underscore ongoing concerns regarding Boeing's internal culture.
Last month, former Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour testified before Congress, critiquing the company for prioritising production over safety and for retaliating against employees who voiced safety concerns.
Boeing has admitted to certain imperfections in its production process but has defended the aircraft's safety.
Boeing disputed Salehpour's claims regarding the Dreamliner's safety, citing extensive testing that purportedly shows no signs of fatigue. emphasising rigorous testing and commitment to improvement.
The death of another Boeing whistleblower under mysterious circumstances comes as the US defence and aerospace giant has long been accused of having a relationship with CIA, the US intelligence agency.
In 2007, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) had accused a Boeing subsidiary of helping the US Central Intelligence Agency transfer foreign suspects to overseas prisons where it said they were held and tortured.
The company allegedly provided flight and logistical support to at least 15 aircraft on 70 so-called "rendition" flights of the US intelligence agency.
Citing US government officials, ACLU has said that CIA and the Pentagon maintain lists of suspected terrorists linked to Al Qaeda and its affiliates who are approved for "capture or killing". The list, also referred to sometimes as "kill list", may include names of Americans.
'A targeted killing policy under which names are added to a “kill list” after a secret bureaucratic process and remain there for months at a time appears not to be limited to imminent threats," the ACLU alleged.
It should be noted that US on Tuesday said that It expects "accountability" from India over the investigation into the allegations related to the plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.
This came after the Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, named a Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer in connection with the alleged plot to kill Pannun on American soil last year.
India strongly rejected the claims, saying that the report made "unwarranted and unsubstantiated" imputations on a serious matter and that an investigation into the case was underway.
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