A well-known Boeing whistleblower who raised safety and quality control issues in the company’s production line was found dead on Saturday, as per South Carolina officials.
John Barnett, 62, passed away from what appears to be a self-inflicted gun shot wound on Friday, according to the Charleston County Coroner’s office.
He was discovered in his vehicle in the hotel’s parking area.
With 32 years of experience at Boeing, Barnett made whistleblower allegations in 2019 about overworked employees at its South Carolina plant fitting substandard parts on planes and reporting faulty oxygen systems that could lead to 1 in 4 oxygen masks not working correctly.
Boeing refuted Barnett’s assertions, yet a subsequent inquiry by the Federal Aviation Administration supported certain parts of his claims.
An investigation revealed that over 50 parts deemed “non-conforming” could not be located and were missing from the company’s records.
Barnett was in Charleston to be interviewed for a lengthy retaliation lawsuit against the company.
NEW: 62-year-old Boeing whistleblower John Barnett found dead in his truck after he didn't show up for a legal interview linked to a case against Boeing.
Barnett worked for Boeing for 32 years and retired in 2017. After retiring, Barnett spoke out about how Boeing was cutting… pic.twitter.com/k3zOqH0REv
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 11, 2024
His passing occurred as Boeing faces heightened regulatory scrutiny for its 737 Max aircraft production following an incident where a door blew out during a flight in January.
The event sparked a comprehensive inquiry into Boeing manufacturing, revealing insufficient quality control.
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