North Charleston, South Carolina – The Charleston County Coroner confirmed the death of John Barnett, a former Boeing employee involved in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company. Barnett, 62, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had worked at Boeing for 32 years, retiring in 2017 after serving as a quality manager at the North Charleston plant where the 787 Dreamliner was manufactured.
Barnett had brought attention to serious issues with the oxygen systems on the long-haul jet, prompting concerns about safety. He also raised alarms about sub-standard parts being used in planes to avoid production delays, suggesting a rushed process that compromised safety. Despite alerting managers to these concerns, Barnett felt that no action was taken. A panel of experts recently criticized Boeing’s safety culture, highlighting a disconnect between senior management and workers as well as fears of retaliation.
Boeing denied Barnett’s allegations, but a 2017 review by the Federal Aviation Administration did find shortcomings in tracking non-conforming parts at the North Charleston factory, echoing one of Barnett’s claims. The ongoing defamation lawsuit he had filed against Boeing had brought him to Charleston, where he was scheduled to give a deposition. Unfortunately, Barnett was found dead in his truck in a hotel parking lot before the questioning.
Boeing expressed sadness over Barnett’s passing, emphasizing their thoughts are with his loved ones. Barnett’s lawyers described him as a man of integrity who cared deeply about the company and the safety of those who flew on Boeing aircraft. His family revealed that Barnett had been struggling with PTSD and anxiety due to a hostile work environment at Boeing.
In addition to Barnett’s tragic death, Boeing has faced scrutiny for various incidents involving their aircraft. Recent incidents include injuries on a flight from Sydney to Auckland, a door plug detachment on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max, and an emergency landing due to a lost tire on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Japan. These incidents have raised further concerns about the safety and maintenance practices of Boeing aircraft.