The family of a Boeing whistleblower found dead on the day he was scheduled to testify against the company blamed the company’s “poor working conditions” for his apparent suicide. .
John Burnett’s family said: “He suffered from PTSD and anxiety attacks as a result of exposure to harsh work conditions at Boeing, which we believe contributed to his death.”・This was his first comment since Barnett’s death.
Barnett, who worked as a quality inspector and manager for a major jetliner for more than 30 years before retiring in 2017, was involved in a truck parking incident that the Charleston County coroner determined was “self-inflicted.” He was found dead. Saturday at a hotel in South Carolina.
The engineer was scheduled to testify further in court in a whistleblower case against the company, but he never did.
His welfare check was claimed and his body was found inside an orange pickup truck, a silver handgun still clutched in his hand.
Barnett, 62, loved working for Boeing until 2010 when he was transferred to the Boeing 787 factory in Charleston, his family said Tuesday.
“His situation changed dramatically when he learned that senior management was putting pressure on quality inspectors and managers to cut corners and not follow processes and procedures required by law,” the family said. Told.
They said Boeing pressured employees to overlook defects so as not to slow down the assembly line, and that employees who refused were “labeled as troublemakers, retaliated against, and subjected to a hostile work environment.” ” he said.
Barnett, known to his family as “Mitch” and friends as “Swampy,” told his family it was a daily battle to get management to do the right thing.
“He was deeply concerned about the safety of aircraft and public flight, and had identified several serious deficiencies that he felt had not been adequately addressed,” the relative said.
“He said Boeing had a culture of cover-up and prioritized profits over safety,” it added.
Barnett’s doctors became concerned about his health as the job he once loved became so stressful.
“This caused him so much stress that doctors told him if he continued like this he would have a heart attack,” the statement said.
Barnett filed a complaint against her employer in 2017 and was “looking forward to her day in court.”
“Mitch took all of this on his shoulders and tried to bring this all to light for the benefit of the flying public,” the family said.
Charleston police are investigating the circumstances of Barnett’s death, but his attorney has questioned the circumstances.
Boeing said in a statement: “We are saddened by the passing of Mr. Barnett and extend our condolences to his family and friends.” He did not comment directly on the contents of the family’s statement.
The company has faced intense backlash after an airborne door plug exploded on an Alaska Airlines flight in January.
A Federal Aviation Administration audit found dozens of problems throughout Boeing’s 737 MAX jet manufacturing process, including “unacceptable” quality control problems.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or visit the following link: SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
