A whistleblower who provided testimony in a case against Boeing has tragically been discovered deceased in South Carolina. John Barnett, formerly a quality manager at the 737 Max manufacturer until 2017, was found deceased over the weekend, shortly after participating in legal proceedings he initiated against Boeing.
As reported by the BBC, Barnett, with over three decades of service at Boeing, was found deceased on Saturday. The coroner’s office in South Carolina confirmed on Monday that the 62-year-old was discovered in his truck in a hotel parking lot, with a “self-inflicted” wound cited as the cause of death. According to the BBC:
“Mr. Barnett had worked for the US plane giant for 32 years, until his retirement in 2017 on health grounds. From 2010, he worked as a quality manager at the North Charleston plant making the 787 Dreamliner, a state-of-the-art airliner used mainly on long-haul routes.”
Barnett had been vocal about issues within Boeing’s production practices following his departure from the company. He exposed instances where workers were reportedly pressured into fitting substandard parts on aircraft production lines.
He revealed concerns regarding oxygen supplies onboard, indicating that “one in four breathing masks would not work in an emergency,” as per the BBC.
Before his passing, Barnett had been actively involved in legal proceedings against Boeing, alleging that the company had tarnished his reputation and hindered his professional advancement. He had recently undergone questioning by Boeing’s legal team and had been cross-examined by his counsel in the days leading up to his death.
The BBC further reports that Barnett had been scheduled to provide additional testimony in ongoing proceedings on the day of his passing.
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