Charleston, South Carolina – A former Boeing employee involved in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company has been discovered dead, authorities confirmed. John Barnett, 62, reportedly passed away from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Charleston County Coroner’s office.
Barnett, who worked at Boeing for 32 years before retiring in 2017, had served as a quality manager at the manufacturer’s North Charleston plant from 2010 to 2017. During his time there, the plant produced the 787 Dreamliner, which had drawn complaints from whistleblowers.
In 2019, Barnett spoke to the BBC regarding serious concerns he raised about oxygen systems on the 787 Dreamliner, alleging that sub-standard parts were being used to avoid production delays. He also criticized the rushed manufacturing process that he believed compromised passenger safety.
Boeing denied Barnett’s claims, though a 2017 Federal Aviation Administration review did reveal issues with “non-conforming” parts at the North Charleston factory, similar to Barnett’s allegations.
Last week, Barnett was in Charleston for a deposition related to a defamation lawsuit he had filed against Boeing. Despite being scheduled for further questioning on Saturday, he failed to appear and was later found dead in his truck in a hotel parking lot.
Boeing expressed sadness over Barnett’s passing, offering condolences to his family and friends. Barnett’s lawyers described him as a man of integrity who was committed to exposing the truth. Barnett’s family attributed his death to PTSD and anxiety resulting from a hostile work environment at Boeing.
The incident involving Barnett adds to Boeing’s recent list of safety concerns, including incidents with the 787 Dreamliner and 737 Max planes. Investigations are ongoing into multiple incidents involving Boeing aircraft, further adding to the scrutiny faced by the company.