Boeing whistleblower John Barnett, Found Dead in the US
Boeing Whistleblower Discovered Deceased in the US A former Boeing worker, known for speaking up about the company's manufacturing practices, has been found dead in the US.
John Barnett, who worked for Boeing for 32 years until his retirement in 2017, was discovered deceased recently. Prior to his passing, he had been providing testimony in a lawsuit against it as a whistleblower.
Boeing expressed sadness over Mr. Barnett's passing. The Charleston County coroner confirmed his death on Monday, revealing that the 62-year-old died from a “self-inflicted” wound on March 9, with police currently investigating.
During his tenure, Mr. Barnett worked at the North Charleston plant producing the 787 Dreamliner, a modern airliner for long-haul flights.
In 2019, he disclosed to the BBC that employees under pressure were knowingly installing subpar parts on aircraft. He also raised concerns about flawed oxygen systems, which could lead to one in four emergency breathing masks failing to operate.
Mr. Barnett had become worried about rushed assembly processes and compromised safety standards at the South Carolina plant. He claimed that procedures to track components were not being followed, allowing defective parts to be used. He even stated that subpar parts were taken from scrap bins and installed on planes under construction to prevent delays.
Regarding emergency oxygen systems for the 787, tests revealed a 25% failure rate, meaning a significant risk in actual emergencies.
Despite Mr. Barnett's alerts to management, no action was taken initially. They refuted his claims, but a 2017 review by the US regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), validated some of his concerns. It was found that 53 “non-conforming” parts were unaccounted for in the factory, prompting it to take corrective measures.
Boeing acknowledged issues with oxygen bottles in 2017 but denied any were actually used on aircraft.
Following his retirement, Mr. Barnett initiated legal action against Boeing, accusing them of damaging his reputation and hindering his career due to his whistleblowing. They rejected these accusations.
Before his death, Mr. Barnett was in Charleston for legal discussions related to this ongoing case. He had recently given a formal statement to Boeing's lawyers and was set for further questioning.
When he didn't appear for scheduled questioning, authorities found him deceased in his truck at the hotel where he was staying.
His lawyer described his death as “tragic” and issued a statement expressing condolences to his loved ones.
This event comes at a time when both Boeing and its main supplier, Spirit Aerosystems, are facing heightened scrutiny over production standards. This scrutiny intensified after an incident in January involving an unused emergency exit door detaching from a new Boeing 737 Max plane shortly after takeoff from Portland International Airport.
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