Explosive revelations in deposition of deceased Boeing whistleblower – National & International News – MON 29Apr2024

Explosive revelations in deposition of dead Boeing whistleblower.

Netanyahu, other Israel officials fear being arrested and tried for war crimes.

NATIONAL NEWS

Explosive revelations in deposition of dead Boeing whistleblower

Last month, former Boeing quality manager John Barnett was found dead in front of his hotel in Charleston, SC, of “what appears to be a self-inflicted wound,” according to the coroner. The circumstances of Barnett’s death are still under investigation.

Before his untimely demise, Barnett had given about 12 hours of testimony over two days in a deposition that was to be part of his whistleblower retaliation suit against Boeing. He was expected to testify for a third day on the day he was found dead. Barnett’s family hopes to continue the lawsuit, taking his place as the plaintiff. The trial is set to begin in September.

Since Barnett’s death, other whistleblowers from Boeing have come forward to speak on a lax safety culture at the company. Earlier this month, two Boeing quality inspectors (one current, one former) spoke before Congress alleging “short cuts” and “criminal cover-ups” on Boeing’s assembly line. One of them alleged he’d also been subjected to intimidation and threats of violence for raising safety and quality concerns.

New details from Barnett’s deposition

Barnett’s attorneys have released a 140-page transcript of his deposition, shedding more light on his travails at Boeing’ Charleston factory, which produced the 787 Dreamliner. Among the things Barnett addressed are:

• A production speed over quality mindset at the Charleston factory (“‘We don’t have time to follow processes, we’re building airplanes.'”)
• Violations of both Boeing and FAA guidelines on quality management.
• Retaliation from a manager after Barnett filed an ethics complaint against him.
• A much smaller ratio of quality control minders to mechanics vs. Barnett’s previous Boeing posting (1 inspector : 9 mechanics at Everett, WA, vs. 1 inspector : 50 or 100 mechanics at Charleston).  
• Butting heads with management when Barnett pushed back on a plan to allow inexperienced mechanics to sign off on their own work.
• Clashes with management over titanium slivers left in aircraft bodies that could potential sever wires and start fires.
• A practice of compromising accounting for defective parts (which Barnett called “pencil whipping”).
• Installation of an improperly sterilized air tube on a plane’s oxygen system which could potentially cause an explosive chemical reaction that could “bring the whole plane down”.
• Harassing phone calls from management (“I’ve never been called 21 times in a day. Even by a girlfriend,” Barnett said).

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Netanyahu, other Israel officials fear being arrested and tried for war crimes

There have been a flurry of headlines in Israel recently over rumors that the International Criminal Court (ICC) could be ready to issue warrants for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other senior Israeli officials. The ICC has been investigating crimes by both Hamas and Israel related to the current conflict.

Reports indicate that top Israeli officials are worried that the ICC could issue arrest warrants secretly. That would mean that these Israeli officials might not learn that they are subject to arrest until they go abroad, where authorities may apprehend them.

Whether there is any truth to the rumors or not, Netanyahu made statements last week indicating he would defy any edict from the ICC. The US and other countries are now urging the ICC not to issue warrants. The White House even asserts that the ICC does not have the authority to issue such warrants.

The ICC is separate from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), though both are based in the Hague (Netherlands). While the ICJ adjudicates disputes between countries – such as South Africa’s ongoing genocide case against Israel – the ICC criminally prosecutes individuals for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Unlike the ICJ, to which all UN member states are signatory, membership in the ICC has to be ratified by individual nations (via the Rome Statute). Neither the US nor Israel are signatories to the Rome Statue, but the State of Palestine is. On that basis, the ICC claims jurisdiction to prosecute crimes by Israelis against the Palestinians.

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