Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun Says Company Has Retaliated Against Whistleblowers

CEO of Boeing Dave Calhoun He was questioned extensively on Capitol Hill this week … and acknowledged that the aerospace giant has a history of retaliating against whistleblowers.

The head of Boeing was in D.C. on Tuesday — where he appeared before U.S. Senators for a hearing aimed at discussing all of the recent issues at Boeing — and he was asked directly about whistleblowers speaking truth to power … while acknowledging the fact that retaliation happens.

When asked if Boeing has fired any employees responsible for retaliation, Calhoun was unable to give an exact number… but he did say retaliation is a practice at Boeing and people have been fired as a result. He promised Senator Blumenthal to get specific information from him.

This is quite significant testimony, given what has happened to some whistleblowers in recent months.

As we told you… Boeing whistleblower John Barnett died in march He died of an apparent suicide just as he was about to file a lawsuit against the company – something his lawyer was highly skeptical about when it happened.

A few weeks after John’s death, A second informant died He died of the infection even though he had reportedly shown no symptoms for the past few weeks… and again, this set off alarm bells.

Calhoun isn’t saying that the deaths in these cases are connected or the result of retaliation, but it’s still interesting. Big picture – he’s acknowledging the fact that Boeing has a history of trying to silence its own people who point out problems with the planes.

The Boeing chief also apologized to those in the room who had been affected by the company’s safety issues — including family members of those killed in crashes.

Today has been quite an eventful day… and it appears Boeing is under pressure to make changes.