Editorial: The right thing to do

New Zealand has a new hero, although he is unlikely to ever qualify as a household name.

Digger King is a 65-year-old expat Kiwi who was employed by budget airline Jetstar Pacific in Vietnam.

Mr King and fellow aircraft engineer Bernard McCune hit the headlines in Vietnam and Australia when they blew the whistle on the airline, citing a number of safety concerns that sparked a formal investigation.

An inquiry by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam uncovered gaps in quality and administrative practices but did not suggest that the airline was operating unsafe aircraft.

Jetstar Pacific is a budget offshoot of Australia's Qantas, and the Australian airline owns a quarter cent share in it.

Mr King and Mr McCune were stood down by the airline and they claim they have been victimised for raising their concerns. Mr King claimed to have been physically threatened by a former colleague.

As with most employment cases there are plenty of claims and counter-claims, and, because of the Qantas connection, the case has become a political football in Australia.

The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) has made much of the case, saying it highlighted problems with the airline industry's safety culture in Australia as well as Asia. ALAEA federal secretary Steve Purvinas said Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) had failed to investigate dozens of safety concerns on aircraft operating domestically and returning from Asia. Mr Purvinas said CASA swept problems under the carpet and the prompt action by the Vietnamese authorities had put the Australian authority to shame.

This sparked a sharp rebuke from Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce, who condemned the union boss's comments as cynical and opportunistic.

The airline argues the safety concerns have been blown out of proportion, and the case had been hijacked by the union for its own political ends.

There may be an element of truth to the airline's claims, but in reality there is an extremely important issue at the heart of the case, which is an employee's right to blow the whistle without fear nor favour.

Mr King and Mr McCune are owed a debt of gratitude from the travelling public, and, indeed the airline they work for. Safety concerns, whether they turn out to be serious or not, have to be reported. Aviation history is littered with disasters caused by small lapses which, given the nature of the business, have horrific implications.

The men have been vindicated by the civil aviation report and, instead of being dismissed, should be held out as shining examples of professionals brave enough to do the right thing.

Condemning whistleblowers has grave implications for the industry's safety culture.

- © Fairfax NZ News