John Barnett, the individual who exposed Boeing’s safety procedures, was discovered deceased. Officials in Charleston, South Carolina, stated on Monday that Barnett, aged 62, passed away “due to what seems to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
Having worked at Boeing for over three decades as a quality inspector, Barnett raised concerns about “‘catastrophic’ safety deficiencies,” as reported by NBC News. His family believes that his actions may have ultimately resulted in his demise.
“His family said in a statement Monday that he had tried to highlight serious concerns but was met with ‘a culture of concealment’ that valued ‘profits over safety,’” according to NBC.
According to the family, Barnett’s death was a result of the hostile work environment at Boeing, which exacerbated his post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety attacks. Barnett had been employed at Boeing’s 787 plant in Charleston, South Carolina, since 2010. He expressed concerns to The New York Times about the possibility of metal shavings damaging the wiring that connects the flight controls, as reported by NBC.
“The FAA ordered Boeing to clear the shavings from the Dreamliners in 2017,” according to NBC’s report. “Boeing said then that it was following the ruling and would look to improve the design of the nut, but also said it wasn’t a flight safety issue.”
Barnett told The Times, “I haven’t seen a plane out of Charleston yet that I’d put my name on saying it’s safe and airworthy.”
Barnett lodged a complaint as a whistleblower subsequent to his retirement in 2017. In an action against Boeing, he asserted that the company had tarnished his reputation and impeded his professional advancement. Boeing refuted these claims. The trial for this particular case was scheduled to commence in June.
“He was looking forward to having his day in court and hoped that it would force Boeing to change its culture,” his family said.
The recent incident involving 50 passengers being injured on a Boeing aircraft due to sudden mid-air movement during a flight from Sydney to Auckland, New Zealand, has added to the scrutiny faced by the company following a series of incidents, such as a door plug blowing out on an Alaska Airlines flight in January, after the news of Barnett’s death. According to NBC News.
Version 1: The recent occurrence where 50 passengers sustained injuries on a Boeing plane due to an abrupt mid-air movement during a flight from Sydney to Auckland, New Zealand, has contributed to the ongoing scrutiny faced by the company following various incidents, including a door plug blowing out on an Alaska Airlines flight in January, subsequent to the announcement of Barnett’s passing. As reported by NBC News.
