this post was submitted on 02 May 2024
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[–] ptz@dubvee.org 148 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

"Once is chance, twice is coincidence, three times is a pattern".

Alternatively...

"If I had a nickel for every Boeing whistle-blower that turned up dead recently, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it's happened twice, right?"

[–] Deceptichum@sh.itjust.works 146 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (34 children)

A former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems who turned whistleblower has died after a sudden illness, his family announced on Tuesday.

[…]

Dean's sudden death at the age of 45 was announced by his aunt and sister on social media on Tuesday. His mother wrote on Facebook that he had contracted pneumonia in April and suffered a stroke following an MSRA infection.

Let’s not turn into QAnon level conspiracy fuckwits here. He died of a natural illness as confirmed by his mother, and his family probably don’t want to have to deal with seeing everyone bringing him up in some deep state corpo assassination conspiracy bullshit.

You can hate Boeing for their shitty capitalist practices with resorting to this.

[–] Steve 148 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

Agreed. It really looks like they only killed the one whistle blower.

[–] STOMPYI@lemmy.world 47 points 7 months ago

Yea. That first one was so obvious there's no way there's a way to kill someone and fool their mother. Case closed I'm satisfied...

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 3 points 7 months ago

That's well within safe levels of whistleblowers turning up dead at the hands of a major defence contractor.

[–] SupahRevs@lemmy.world 16 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I think the real take away is that there are so many people willing to speak out against Boeing's procedures that odds are some are going to die before the conclusion of this investigation.

[–] NightAuthor@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

Imma need a dissertation on the probabilities here.

[–] refalo@programming.dev 7 points 7 months ago
[–] reverendsteveii@lemm.ee 5 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Okay, but in the interest of not pretending that They Would Never(tm) can we all agree that if a THIRD whistleblower dies shortly before or during testimony that maybe something is happening here? You have the guy who committed suicide in the middle of depositions after telling his friend "If I commit suicide, no I absolutely did not" and now the healthy 45 year old who all of a sudden has multiple infections and a stroke. Is there a point at which you'd accept the idea that it's a bit beyond coincidence that the deadliest place in the world seems to be the witness stand at a trial where Boeing is the defendant?

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[–] hglman@lemmy.ml 3 points 7 months ago

You can give people infections on purpose. If he had died of a genetic heart defect it would be different.

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[–] Maultasche@feddit.de 85 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

There's no rest for Agent 747

[–] Nobody@lemmy.world 45 points 7 months ago (3 children)

The Seattle Times wrote that Dean "had been in good health and was noted for having a healthy lifestyle," but had died after contracting "a sudden, fast-spreading infection."

Agent 747 has some more sophisticated toys to play with this time. He must have upgraded after the last whistleblower.

[–] reverendsteveii@lemm.ee 5 points 7 months ago

I mean, suiciding the guy who flat out told his friends "If I commit suicide no I didn't" shows that agent 747 was due to update his techniques and understanding.

[–] hglman@lemmy.ml 5 points 7 months ago

Can't kill them the same way, then it would be obvious.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

Oh no don't tell me he got engine rot

[–] CrayonRosary@lemmy.world 10 points 7 months ago

His name is Max.

[–] Th4tGuyII@kbin.social 71 points 7 months ago

This seems a lot more like an unfortunate coincidence than the first whistleblower, unless Boeing have resorted to bioterrorism to get rid of their witnesses, but I'd hate to be part of Boeing's PR team right now - huge court case where the witnesses against you keep dying doesn't look good even if you had nothing to do with it.

[–] NatakuNox@lemmy.world 64 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I doubt during Boeing board meetings they are planning assassinations, but I have no doubt there's a wealthy investor or board member willing to kill to prevent losing money.

[–] TheReturnOfPEB@reddthat.com 18 points 7 months ago

Boeing does sell to the military.

[–] ShadowRam@fedia.io 46 points 7 months ago (2 children)

His mother wrote on Facebook that he had contracted pneumonia in April and suffered a stroke following an MSRA infection.

I'd expect a very very through autopsy,

[–] Neato@ttrpg.network 20 points 7 months ago

And a blood panel so thorough his family knows everything he ate in the last month.

[–] DontTreadOnBigfoot@lemmy.world 15 points 7 months ago

I'd expect the body to mysteriously disappear before an autopsy can be performed...

[–] Dasnap@lemmy.world 31 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Is this whistle made of arsenic or something?

[–] Th4tGuyII@kbin.social 15 points 7 months ago

Comes in an envelope with some lovely anthrax

[–] TheJims@lemmy.world 29 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Putin be like bump it down a notch Boeing.

[–] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

no one likes a copycat

[–] Ephera@lemmy.ml 28 points 7 months ago

Fucking hell, why should anyone ever want to fly with Boeing again, if they need to pull this kind of mafia shit to cover up their crimes?

[–] Chef@sh.itjust.works 26 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Edit: yeah, they died very suddenly from an infection and stroke. It’s not like they had cancer or anything. So my contention is wrong in this case. Leaving my comment up to memorialize my mistake.

Original comment:

It appears they died from a “natural illness.” Before we go all conspiracy theory here let me remind everyone that a poor diagnosis sometimes LEADS to someone becoming a whistleblower. They are confronted with their own mortality and want to do some good before they go.

The death may not have been a result of the whistleblowing but may have been the cause of the whistleblowing.

[–] blarth@thelemmy.club 5 points 7 months ago

Fair point, but damned if it isn’t suspicious.

[–] HootinNHollerin@lemmy.world 22 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Lock up the executives this isn’t a coincidence

[–] topperharlie@lemmy.world 20 points 7 months ago

When you see in movies that the bad guy is bold AF and kills indiscriminately yet no-one seems to be doing nothing you think: meh, that is so unrealistic

yet here we are...

we just need a real life Liam Neeson that would kill all the bosses of Boeing, given that law is useless against the rich and powerful.

[–] K0W4LSK1@lemmy.dbzer0.com 19 points 7 months ago

Could be coincidence or could be murder. Either way bad time to be a Boeing whistleblower

[–] Churbleyimyam@lemm.ee 12 points 7 months ago

"Hey how can we repair the recent damage to our reputation?"

"Murder somebody"

[–] henfredemars@infosec.pub 6 points 7 months ago

I definitely would be wary of having having any business with this company. Seems like a hazard to health.

[–] butsbutts@lemmy.ml 3 points 7 months ago

well thats weird

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