Former Boeing quality manager John Barnett recently testified in a whistleblower trial against the aircraft manufacturer. Now he was found dead in his vehicle with a “self-inflicted wound.”
A former employee of US aircraft maker Boeing who raised concerns about the plane maker’s production standards has been found dead, the BBC reports.
John Barnett, who worked at Boeing for 32 years until his retirement in 2017, died on March 9 from a “self-inflicted” wound, according to the BBC. His death was confirmed by a coroner in Charlston, the report said. In an emailed statement, Boeing said it was “saddened” to learn of Barnett’s death. The company’s thoughts are “with its family and friends.”
Testified against Boeing a few days before death
In the days before his death, Barnett had testified in a whistleblower case against Boeing. He was due to be questioned further on Saturday and when he failed to turn up, inquiries were made at his hotel. He was then found dead in his vehicle in the hotel parking lot, the report said.
As of 2010, Barnett worked as a quality manager at Boeing’s North Charleston factory, where the 787 Dreamliner is manufactured. In 2019, he was quoted in a New York Times report saying the North Charleston plant had problems with production and oversight, posing a safety risk. Faulty parts were installed in some of the planes, and metal shavings were often left inside the jets, the NYT reported. Barnett said he found clusters of metal shards hanging over flight control wiring, the report said.
That same year, he told the BBC that workers under pressure had deliberately installed substandard parts on the planes on the assembly line. (Bloomberg/ed.)
Offers of help
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Advice and help if you are at risk of suicide 0810/97 71 55
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