The death of John Barnett, a former Boeing employee and whistleblower, has raised questions and concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding his passing. Here are the key points related to his death and his contributions as a whistleblower:
John Barnett, aged 62, was found dead in his truck in a hotel car park in South Carolina on March 9. The Charleston County coroner confirmed that Barnett had died from a 'self-inflicted' wound.
Barnett had worked for Boeing for 32 years before retiring in 2017 due to health reasons. He had raised concerns about the company's production standards, particularly at the North Charleston plant where the 787 Dreamliner was being manufactured.
Barnett alleged that workers at the plant were under pressure to meet deadlines and had been installing sub-standard parts to Boeing aircraft on the production line. He also raised concerns about the failure rate of emergency oxygen systems for the 787 Dreamliner.
Barnett had been providing evidence about Boeing's production standards in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company before his death.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had upheld some of Barnett's concerns, including the identification of "non-conforming" parts in the factory. The FAA asked Boeing to take remedial action in response to these findings.
Barnett was questioned by Boeing's lawyers during testimony, and he was scheduled to appear for further questioning on the day of his death. His lawyer described his death as "tragic."
Boeing expressed its condolences over Barnett's passing and stated that they were saddened by the news. They offered their thoughts to Barnett's family and friends.
Overall, Barnett's death has added a tragic dimension to the ongoing scrutiny of Boeing's production practices and the challenges faced by whistleblowers in the aerospace industry.
