Topic: Spirit Aerosystems

A new whistleblower from Spirit AeroSystems, Santiago Paredes, alleged that he found up to 200 defects in Boeing 737 Max fuselages but was pressured to ignore them to meet production quotas. Simultaneously, the FAA opened a probe into the North Charleston Boeing plant after reports that employees falsified inspection records for the 787 Dreamliner. The ongoing safety scandals have led to speculation about a push for unionization in South Carolina's aerospace industry.

Joshua Dean, a whistleblower at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, died suddenly following a fast-spreading infection involving Influenza B and MRSA. This is the second death of a Boeing-related whistleblower in recent months, leading to public skepticism regarding the "coincidence" of these events.

A United Airlines pilot in street clothes was removed from a flight after a mid-cabin meltdown where she discussed her divorce and political views. Separately, Boeing and Airbus have agreed to split Spirit AeroSystems, with Boeing taking back its relevant manufacturing portions. The incidents are cited as evidence of ongoing operational instability within the major American aviation companies.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into Spirit Aerosystems, a key Boeing supplier, following reports of manufacturing defects. Paxton's office is demanding documents related to quality control flaws and the company's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The investigation seeks to determine if a focus on a diverse workforce has compromised the safety and integrity of aircraft components.

The FBI has notified passengers of Alaska Flight 1282 that they are considered "possible victims of a crime" following the mid-air blowout of a Boeing door plug. Boeing is reportedly in talks to re-acquire Spirit AeroSystems, the Wichita-based supplier that was spun off 20 years ago, to address quality control issues. The transition is expected to begin in June 2024 and conclude by mid-2025.

Boeing whistleblower John Barnett was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in South Carolina during a period of legal depositions against the company. Simultaneously, FAA audits revealed that Boeing failed 33 of 89 quality control tests. The hosts discuss the suspicious timing of Barnett's death and the broader industrial warfare between Boeing and Airbus.