Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun Says Company Has Retaliated Against Whistleblowers

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun received grilled on Capitol Hill this week … and he simply admitted the aerospace big has a historical past of retaliation in opposition to whistleblowers.

The Boeing boss was in D.C. Tuesday — the place he was showing earlier than U.S. senators for a listening to meant to handle all the problems at Boeing recently — and he was requested straight-up about whistleblowers talking fact to energy … acknowledging for a reality retaliation occurs.

Pressed if Boeing fired any staffers who have been liable for the retaliation, Calhoun was unable to offer any particular numbers … however he stated retaliation is a factor at Boeing and other people have been fired because of this. He promised Senator Blumenthal to get him specifics.

It is fairly important testimony, given what’s occurred to some whistleblowers in current months.

As we reported … Boeing whistleblower John Barnett died back in March from an obvious suicide, smack in the midst of depositions for his lawsuit in opposition to the corporate — one thing his lawyer was extremely suspicious of when it occurred.

A number of weeks after John’s demise, a second whistleblower died from an an infection regardless of reportedly displaying no signs within the weeks prior … and once more, it raised alarms.

Calhoun’s not saying the deaths in these situations are associated or the results of retaliation, however it’s attention-grabbing nonetheless. Greater image — he is fessing as much as the truth that Boeing has had a historical past of making an attempt to silence people in their very own ranks for mentioning points with the planes.

The Boeing chief additionally apologized to individuals within the room who’d been affected by the corporate’s questions of safety — together with relations who’d perished in crashes.

Fairly an eventful at this time … and it feels like Boeing is underneath stress to make modifications.