12 March 2024
John Barnett, a former Boeing employee who raised concerns about the company’s manufacturing practices, was found dead in his car on Saturday. He was 62 years old.
Barnett, who worked for Boeing for 32 years before retiring in 2017 due to health reasons, had become a whistleblower, alleging that Boeing used substandard parts and prioritized speed over safety in production of the 787 Dreamliner.
Barnett’s death comes just days after he testified in a lawsuit against Boeing. The cause of death was reported to be “self-inflicted injuries” by Charleston County officials, who are investigating.
Barnett claimed that Boeing pressured workers to use faulty parts and that some oxygen masks on the Dreamliner may not function properly in an emergency. He also alleged that the company did not follow proper safety protocols and used substandard materials in aircraft construction.
Boeing has denied all of Barnett’s allegations, stating they adhere to the strictest safety standards. However, a 2017 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigation did find some validity in Barnett’s concerns regarding parts quality and oxygen equipment.
Barnett’s death has reignited scrutiny of Boeing’s manufacturing practices. The company, along with a key parts supplier, Spirit Aerosystems, has faced criticism for quality control issues in recent years.
This incident comes on the heels of a separate incident in January where a door on a new Boeing 737 Max aircraft detached shortly after takeoff.
Investigators found that critical components were missing from the plane.
Barnett had filed a lawsuit against Boeing claiming that the company retaliated against him for raising safety concerns. His death leaves questions unanswered about those claims.
John Barnett’s story highlights the importance of whistleblowers in uncovering potential safety hazards within large corporations. His allegations raise serious concerns that warrant continued investigation
