Police Conclude Boeing Whistleblower Died by Suicide
"It's going to take a lot of work and I've heard lots of broken promises, so until we see action that actually matches the words," Pierson said.
May 18 2024, Published 6:00 p.m. ET
Police have concluded their investigation into the death of a Boeing whistleblower who was found dead from an apparent suicide in March, RadarOnline.com has learned.
The investigation determined that longtime Boeing quality control manager John Barnett, 62, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Associated Press reports.
Barnett, a 62-year-old whistleblower, had recently filed a lawsuit against Boeing.
"Information and records reviewed during the investigation uncovered Mr. Barnett’s longstanding mental health challenges, which had intensified in connection with ongoing legal proceedings related to his whistleblower case," police said in a statement.
"We remain acutely aware of the sensitivity and public interest surrounding this case," a Charleston police spokesperson added, per CBS News. "It is important to emphasize that our investigation was guided strictly by facts and evidence while remaining undisturbed by conjecture and external pressures."
In late February, federal regulators gave the company 90 days to come up with and present a turnaround plan to fix the persistent safety issues.
Barnett, who had worked at Boeing for 32 years, was found dead in his truck outside a hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, where he was staying while answering questions in depositions for his whistleblower complaint ahead of a hearing scheduled for June.
Following his retirement in 2017, Barnett raised safety concerns about the aviation giant. He had filed a lawsuit against Boeing alleging that the company allowed "sub-standard" parts to be fitted onto Boeing 787 Dreamliners and put passengers at risk by overlooking safety protocols in order to cut costs.
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Boeing reached a $2.5 billion settlement in January 2021 after two 737 Max jets crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people.
“John was deeply concerned about the safety of the aircraft and flying public, and had identified some serious defects that he felt were not adequately addressed,” Barnett’s brother, Rodney, said in a family statement shortly after his death. “He said that Boeing had a culture of concealment and was putting profits over safety.”
Boeing said in a statement, "We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s passing, and our thoughts continue to be with his family and friends."
Two Boeing whistleblower were recently found dead in the span of two months, but no foul play is suspected.
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Mere days after Barnett's death, a Boeing 787 experienced a midair “technical event” that resulted in the injury of 50 passengers.
Another Boeing whistleblower, 45-year-old Joshua Dean, passed away from a sudden illness in May.
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