Former Boeing employee found dead amid whistleblower lawsuit

Mar 12, 2024

Lauren Taylor Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Reporter), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

This report was created with support from enhanced software.

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A former Boeing employee who had raised concerns about the company’s production standards was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, as reported by the Charleston County Coroner’s Office. John Barnett, 62, had worked at Boeing for 32 years before retiring in 2017.

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Authorities responded to a Charleston hotel where Barnett was discovered with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Saturday, according to investigators.

Barnett had been testifying in a whistleblower lawsuit against Boeing prior to his death.

“But my concern is, what’s the rest of the airplane?” Barnett said in an interview with TMZ in January. “What’s the rest of the condition of the airplane? And the reason my concern for that is back in 2012, Boeing started removing inspection operations off their jobs. So, it left the mechanics to buy off their own work.”

He had reported compromised safety standards at Boeing, including the use of sub-standard parts and faulty oxygen systems, which the company denied.

“We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends,” Boeing said in a statement.

The company is currently facing concerns over aircraft safety amid recent incidents and FAA audits highlighting manufacturing quality control issues.

In January, a door plug blew out on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane during an Alaska Airlines flight.

The National Transportation Safety Board initially investigated and found no bolts were installed on the door plug.

Detectives are awaiting the formal cause of death as the investigation continues.

Tags: Boeing, National Transportation Safety Board

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

A FORMER BOEING EMPLOYEE WHO RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMPANY’S PRODUCTION STANDARDS, WAS FOUND DEAD FROM AN APPARENT SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND, ACCORDING TO THE CHARLESTON COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE.

JOHN BARNETT WAS 62 YEARS OLD AND WORKED FOR AT BOEING FOR 32 YEARS BEFORE RETIRING IN 2017.

OFFICERS RESPONDED TO A HOTEL PARKING LOT WHERE BARNETT WAS FOUND WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND SATURDAY, ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS.

HE WAS TESTIFYING IN A WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY BEFORE HIS DEATH.

HE RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH TMZ TO DO THIS INTERVIEW:

[JOHN BARNETT / BOEING WHISTLEBLOWER]

“BUT MY CONCERN IS WHAT’S THE REST OF THE AIRPLANE? WHAT’S THE REST OF THE CONDITION OF THE AIRPLANE? AND THE REASON MY CONCERN FOR THAT IS BACK IN 2012, BOEING STARTED REMOVING INSPECTION OPERATIONS OFF THEIR JOBS. SO IT LEFT THE MECHANICS TO BUY OFF THEIR OWN WORK.”

HE HAD REPORTED THERE WERE COMPROMISED SAFETY STANDARDS AT BOEING, INCLUDING THE USE OF SUB-STANDARD PARTS AND FAULTY OXYGEN SYSTEMS, WHICH BOEING DENIED.

BOEING EXPRESSED SADNESS OVER BARNETT’S PASSING.

THE COMPANY IS FACING CONCERNS OVER AIRCRAFT SAFETY AMID RECENT INCIDENTS AND FAA AUDITS HIGHLIGHTING MANUFACTURING QUALITY CONTROL ISSUES.

IN JANUARY — THE DOOR PLUG BLEW OUT — ON A BOEING737 MAX 9 PLANE DURING AN ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT.

THE NTSB INITIALLY INVESTIGATED AND FOUND NO BOLTS WERE INSTALLED ON THE DOOR PLUG.

DETECTIVES AWAIT THE FORMAL CAUSE OF DEATH As THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.