Boeing Whistleblowers Allege Retaliation After Raising Aircraft Safety Concerns

Summary

In 2024, the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations opened a bipartisan inquiry into Boeing after receiving whistleblower disclosures concerning manufacturing practices and the company's safety culture. Boeing quality engineer Sam Salehpour testified that he faced retaliation after raising concerns about manufacturing and assembly of Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft. The Senate later released additional whistleblower evidence. Boeing employee Sam Mohawk alleged that nonconforming aircraft parts were improperly tracked and stored, that supervisors told him to conceal evidence from the FAA, and that he experienced retaliation after raising concerns. The investigation also examined earlier retaliation allegations from former Boeing employee John Barnett. The Senate's investigation found broader concerns about Boeing's safety-reporting culture. Separately, an expert panel examining Boeing's FAA delegation program found employees could hesitate to report safety concerns because of fear of retaliation and that many employees distrusted the anonymity of Boeing's reporting system. Boeing disputed important aspects of whistleblower allegations and maintained that it encourages employees to report safety concerns. The congressional investigation documented allegations and safety-culture concerns but did not constitute a final judicial finding that Boeing unlawfully retaliated in every cited instance. Sources: U.S. Senate — New Boeing whistleblower evidence U.S. Senate — Boeing safety-culture inquiry Senate hearing — Firsthand accounts of Boeing's safety culture