Boeing punished for spying

[newswatcher]

The US Air Force has punished Boeing for resorting to industrial espionage in order to better its defence rival Lockheed Martin.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3094825.stm

[skinteastwood]

The article states that 78,000 employees are being asked to stand down, and that $1Billion worth of contracts have been withdrawn.

With this huge loss of (presumably) quality staff and income, could this pose a serious threat the future of the company? Is it concievable that Boeing could go bust?

Nobody would have thought bancruptcies on the scale of Enron/Worldcom possible in years gone by, but they serve to illustrate that no corporation, regardless of size, is safe.

Just a thought.

[ferrydude]

Not likely, The US government will not allow Boeing to go bust anymore than the EU will allow that to happen to EADS/Airbus.
The accusation is not at all about spying, despite what the press is reporting. If the Air Force gets to pushy with their punishment, Boeing has already told the them to go pound sand and use the Lockmart Rocket for all of it's needs, which can't do all of the missions. Boeing will take a public spanking for political reasons, but in the end, will come out smiling. Watch closely

[Rollingthunder]

Current Boeing staffing is around 160,000. Loss of 78,000 would be very serious. Doubt that number.

[ferrydude]

stand down= no work for 4 hours, employees are still being paid, but it is non-productive time, no employees are losing jobs yet. But I would bet some of the Legal staff is headed for the streets soon.

[B767300ER]

Boeing spying? Surely you jest.