A bevy of investigations have been launched in response to recent incidents surrounding air travel in the U.S. Most notable is BBC News’ reporting on the death of John Barnett, a retired 32-year veteran of Boeing who, “In the days before his death, had been giving evidence in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company,” according to the BBC News article. The article also indicated “the Charleston County coroner confirmed his death and said the 62-year-old had died from a "self-inflicted" wound on 9 March and police were investigating.”

Additionally, the Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into the plug door that blew off during the landing of an Alaska Airlines flight in Portland back in January. In the past week, the media has reported on a seemingly non-stop list of airline mishaps, including United Flight 35 that lost a tire upon takeoff, “damaging multiple cars in a nearby parking lot,” according to a Daily Wire article. The Boeing 777-200 was headed to Japan, but landed safely in Los Angeles after the incident, according to a local NBC News affiliate. Video of the tire falling off the plane dominated news broadcasts that evening.