Aerospace giant Boeing pleaded guilty this week to criminal charges that it conspired to defraud federal regulators in the years before two fatal crashes of the MAX 737 that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019. The company had hidden from government regulators at the Federal Aviation Administration their knowledge of autopilot control features that potentially prevented pilots from being able to manually control their aircraft and avert crashes. Despite promises to correct these and other inherent problems in the manufacturing process, earlier this year a door plug fell off as an Alaska Air passenger plane was mid-flight. (Fabbro, July 8, 2024). This incident caused injuries and highlights the corporate culture at Boeing where quality control has suffered because staff fears reporting production problems. In five years no significant changes have been made due to the toxic environment and lack of trust between employees and managers. 

Boeing inspector and whistleblower Merle Meyers asserts that he witnessed workers who took parts rejected by three departments and used them so that they could meet production deadlines and enhance shareholders’ profits. For years Myers brought this issue to the attention of Boeing’s corporate investigations team, but investigators blatantly disregarded the safety rules meant to ensure the safety of airplane crewmembers and passengers.

The airplane manufacturer has displayed a systemic pattern of lack of responsiveness and unwillingness to change. Significantly, Boeing has ignored complaints from multiple whistleblowers, and two who spoke up have recently died under suspicious circumstances. Challenging “business as usual” at the second most important defense and aerospace supplier to the US military and a significant commercial airplane manufacturer for the US and many other countries involves great risk and putting one’s life on the line, both physically and psychologically. 

How does the status quo change? “Whistleblowers are needed. They bring to light wrongdoing and corruption for the benefit of society. It takes a lot of courage to stand up,” attorney Brian Knowles said. Like a giraffe with its long neck, standing up and being conspicuous is dangerous and potentially deadly. This vulnerability can literally lead to death. “It’s a difficult set of circumstances” (Graziosi and Muzzafar, May 4, 2024).

A group called Whistleblowers of America (WoA) has begun examining the concept of moral injury as it applies to these courageous individuals. Adopting a trauma-informed view of those who reveal wrongdoing in their workplaces, WoA states that the retaliation of an organization or corporate entity against those who expose corruption is like that experienced by combat veterans who have endured a hostile work environment. “I’m doing battle for my life,” stated one individual. One woman said she felt like she had been “professionally gang raped” (Garrick, 2022). A person who becomes traumatized and morally injured by the actions of those in authority over him experiences a shattering of the soul. Whistleblowers of America aims to build resilience among these brave people whose code of ethics causes them to stick their necks out and to challenge wrongdoing in their midst. (Garrick and Buck, 2020). 

Moral injury is a hazard to anyone who works in a dangerous and complex environment. Soldiers, first responders, medical professionals, and all those who seek to protect society while fighting against great odds are susceptible. The chaplains, researchers, and advocates of Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen welcome the chance to collaborate with those in this battle.

To learn more and become better equipped for service, we welcome you to attend the annual Comprehensive Moral Injury Conference this summer in Sandy Springs, Georgia, from September 16-19, 2024. Click here for further information and to register: https://misns.org/programs/cmic/

Learn more about Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc.  and sign up for our newsletter at: https://misns.org.
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Susan Sganga is the Media Specialist for Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. and is a public health specialist located in North Carolina. She can be reached at 704-254-1548 or susanpsganga@gmail.com.

Sources

Fabbro, R. (July 8, 2024). Boeing will plead guilty to a felony in two MAX 737 crashes. https://qz.com/boeing-plea-deal-guilty-doj-fatal-737-max-crashes-1851580494

Garrick, J. and Buck, M. (2022). The psychosocial impacts of whistleblower retaliation: shattering employee resilience and the workplace promise. Springer International Publishing. In Watson, S. and Roberts, D. L. (2023). Moral injury research, discussions, and support methods, v. 2.

Graziosi, G. and Muzaffar, M. (May 4, 2024). Second Boeing whistleblower dies after raising concerns about 737 MAX. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/boeing-whistleblower-dead-second-b2539697.html

McHardy, M. (July 3, 2024). Boeing whistleblower claims scrapyard parts were placed back on plane factory assembly lines. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/boeing-scrap-yard-parts-safety-concerns-b2573974.html