A prominent Boeing whistleblower who reported concerns about the safety and quality control of Boeing’s production lines was found dead Saturday, according to South Carolina authorities.
The Charleston County Coroner’s Office announced that John Barnett, 62, died Friday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was found in a truck in a hotel parking lot.
Burnett, a 32-year Boeing veteran, in 2019. Whistleblower complaint Overworked employees at a South Carolina factory frequently install substandard parts on planes, and there have been reports of defects in the oxygen system, resulting in a quarter of the oxygen masks not working properly. He claimed to have sex.
Boeing denied Barnett’s claims, but a follow-up investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration found some of his claims to be credible. The report found that more than 50 “nonconforming” parts could not be traced and were lost within the company’s systems.
Barnett was in Charleston for questioning in a long-running retaliation lawsuit against the company.
His death comes as Boeing faces increased regulatory scrutiny of the manufacturing process for its 737 Max planes after a door exploded mid-flight during a flight in January. The incident sparked a wide-ranging investigation into Boeing’s manufacturing, which revealed lax quality control.
Barnett’s allegations had nothing to do with the 737 Max or the Washington manufacturing plant involved in the scandal.
Boeing said in a statement to the BBC: “We are saddened by the passing of Mr. Barnett and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
