CHARLESTON, S.C. – A former Boeing employee involved in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company was found dead in South Carolina, authorities confirmed. The death of John Barnett, 62, was ruled as a suicide by the Charleston County Coroner.
Barnett, who had worked at Boeing for 32 years before retiring in 2017, had raised concerns about issues with oxygen systems on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which he had supervised at the North Charleston plant from 2010 to 2017. He alleged that sub-standard parts were being used to avoid production delays, potentially compromising passenger safety.
Boeing denied Barnett’s allegations, but a 2017 FAA review did find “non-conforming” parts in the factory, supporting some of Barnett’s claims. Barnett also accused Boeing of retaliating against him, which the company refuted. Despite this, Barnett was in the process of giving a formal deposition for a defamation lawsuit he had filed against Boeing before his death.
Authorities found Barnett dead in his truck in a hotel parking lot in Charleston after he failed to appear for further questioning regarding the lawsuit. Boeing expressed sadness over Barnett’s passing, while his lawyers emphasized his integrity and sincerity in bringing forth concerns about the company’s practices.
In the midst of Barnett’s case, Boeing has faced scrutiny over a series of incidents involving its aircraft. Most recently, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner caused injuries to 50 passengers during a flight from Sydney to Auckland due to unexpected turbulence. Additionally, in January, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max had to make an emergency landing after a door plug detached shortly after takeoff.
These incidents, along with others involving United Airlines flights and maintenance issues, have raised concerns about the safety and quality of Boeing aircraft. As the investigations continue, Barnett’s death has added a somber note to the ongoing legal battles and controversies surrounding the aviation giant’s operations.