A former Boeing worker has tragically died in an obvious suicide, and the timing of this positive is… sort of chilling?
Whistleblower dies throughout authorized trial with Boeing
62-year-old John Barnett labored at Boeing for 32 years, till his retirement in 2017. Lately, he has develop into identified for being a whistleblower, elevating considerations concerning the firm’s manufacturing requirements.
Barnett had been pursuing authorized motion towards Boeing, accusing the corporate of denigrating his character and hampering his profession on account of what he uncovered concerning the firm.
Final week, Barnett had been in Charleston for authorized interviews linked to this case. He gave a proper deposition through which he was questioned by Boeing attorneys, earlier than being cross-examined. Throughout this, he had been offering proof in his lawsuit towards the corporate, associated to Boeing’s high quality defects.
Barnett was presupposed to bear extra questioning on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Nevertheless, he didn’t present up in courtroom. Questions on his whereabouts have been raised, and the lodge the place he was staying was contacted. He was subsequently discovered useless in his truck within the lodge parking zone.
The Charleston County coroner confirmed the loss of life on Monday, and said the reason for loss of life was a “self-inflicted” wound.
Boeing issued an announcement that “we’re saddened by Mr. Barnett’s passing, and our ideas are together with his household and pals.”
No matter occurred right here, that is tragic, and my ideas are with Barnett’s household.
The Boeing points that Barnett introduced up
Beginning in 2010, Barnett labored as a high quality supervisor at Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner plant in Charleston, and he labored there till 2017, when he retired. Throughout this time, he grew to become involved that Boeing’s precedence was constructing new plane as rapidly as attainable, even when it meant compromising security, a philosophy instantly at odds with what he was presupposed to oversee.
Lately, the main points he has shared have performed an element within the case towards Boeing. Amongst different issues, Barnett had claimed that:
- Staff had been intentionally becoming sub-standards elements to plane on the manufacturing line
- There have been issues with oxygen methods, which may imply one in 4 respiratory masks wouldn’t work in an emergency
- Staff didn’t comply with procedures supposed to trace parts by way of the factories, permitting faulty parts to go lacking
- Sub-standard elements had been faraway from scrap bins and fitted to planes that have been being constructed, to stop delays on the manufacturing line
When Barnett alerted managers of what he noticed, no motion was taken. In fact it’s value stating that Boeing denies these allegations. Nevertheless, a evaluate by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) discovered advantage to a few of Barnett’s considerations. And I believe at this level, the entire world has seen how Boeing’s precedence is revenue over security.
Backside line
A Boeing whistleblower who was in the course of a courtroom case with the plane producer died in an obvious suicide, on the identical day he was presupposed to be in courtroom. Barnett had labored at Boeing for 32 years, and did so much to show the corporate’s shortcomings.
