Charleston, South Carolina – A former Boeing employee, John Barnett, who had been testifying in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company, was discovered dead in South Carolina. The Charleston County Coroner confirmed Barnett’s death, attributing it to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Barnett, who worked at Boeing for 32 years until his retirement in 2017, had served as a quality manager at the company’s North Charleston plant, where the 787 Dreamliner was manufactured. He had raised concerns about issues with oxygen systems on the jet, alleging that sub-standard parts were used to avoid production delays, compromising passenger safety.
Despite Boeing denying Barnett’s allegations, a Federal Aviation Administration review in 2017 did find at least 53 “non-conforming” parts in the North Charleston factory. Barnett had accused Boeing of damaging his reputation and hindering his career, claims the manufacturer refuted.
Recently, a panel of experts criticized Boeing’s safety culture, citing a gap between senior management and workers’ concerns about retaliation. Barnett had filed a defamation lawsuit against Boeing, and was in Charleston for a deposition related to the case when he was found dead in his truck at a hotel parking lot.
Boeing expressed sadness over Barnett’s passing, stating their condolences to his family and friends. Barnett’s lawyers described him as a man of integrity who cared deeply about safety, adding that he had been looking forward to resolving the lawsuit and moving on. Barnett’s family attributed his death to PTSD and anxiety related to a hostile work environment at Boeing.
The aerospace company has faced scrutiny over recent incidents involving Boeing aircraft, including multiple emergency landings and safety issues. These incidents have raised further questions about Boeing’s safety practices and oversight.