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A whistleblower who publicly raised questions about Boeing’s manufacturing standards has reportedly been found dead.
The Charleston County Coroner’s Office told the BBC that John Barnett, 62, died of self-inflicted injuries on Saturday. According to the BBC, Barnett was cross-examined by Boeing’s lawyers and his own lawyer in the days before his death.
The court had scheduled Mr Barnett to answer further questions on Saturday, but he did not appear in court as scheduled.
The BBC reported that a man was later found dead in a truck parked in the hotel’s parking lot.
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A sign outside Boeing’s manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington, U.S., Monday, February 5, 2024. (David Ryder/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Mr. Barnett was employed by Boeing for more than 30 years before retiring in 2017, where he worked as a quality control engineer.
In 2019, Barnett told the BBC that Boeing was rushing to remove the 787 Dreamliner jet from its production line, which would compromise its safety.
He claimed that the emergency oxygen system built for the 787 Dreamliner had a failure rate of 25%. This meant his quarter of the 787 Dreamliner could rapidly lose oxygen and passengers could suffocate if the cabin was suddenly depressurized.
Barnett said he encountered these problems when he started working at Boeing’s North Charleston plant in 2010. Barnett reportedly raised his concerns with his managers, but they took no action.
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The Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be built on May 30, 2023 at the airline’s assembly plant in North Charleston, South Carolina. (Juliette Michel/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Federal Aviation Administration investigated Boeing in 2017 and ordered the company to take action, corroborating some of Barnett’s claims.
Boeing told FOX Business it was saddened by Barnett’s death.
Boeing said in a statement: “We are saddened by the passing of Mr. Barnett and extend our condolences to his family and friends.”
A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner taxis after its maiden flight at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington on September 17, 2013. (Stephen Brashear/Getty Images/Getty Images)
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FOX Business has reached out to the Charleston County Coroner’s Office for more information.
