Former quality inspector Joshua Dean is dead. Dean expressed concerns about the safety of the 737 Max jet after his firing. Just over two weeks ago, the 45-year-old was hospitalized with breathing problems.
A few weeks after the death of John Barnett, another Boeing whistleblower died. Josh Dean, a former quality inspector at Boeing supplier Spirit Aerosystems, raised concerns about the safety of the 737 Max jet after he was fired. Now, according to media reports, he has died after a short illness. “Our thoughts are with Josh Dean’s family,” said Spirit Aerosystems. “This sudden loss is shocking news here and for his relatives.”
Dean, who was 45, was hospitalized with breathing problems just over two weeks ago, according to a Seattle Times report. He was battling pneumonia and MRSA, a serious bacterial infection, his aunt Carol Parsons said.
Dean had testified in Spirit’s corporate litigation and also filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) alleging “serious and gross misconduct by senior quality management on the 737 production line” at Spirit. Dean’s death follows that of another Boeing whistleblower, John Barnett, who died of a self-inflicted wound in March, according to media reports.
Experienced mechanics and inspectors left after pandemic
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal published earlier this year, Dean said he was laid off during the pandemic-related shutdown and upon his return in May 2021 found that Spirit had lost many of its most experienced mechanics and auditors. He later claimed that he was fired after reporting incorrectly drilled holes in the fuselage sections, the report said. A company spokesman said at the time that the company strongly rejected the allegations in the stock litigation.
Dean had filed a complaint with the Department of Labor, claiming his termination was a retaliation for raising safety concerns, according to a Seattle Times report.
737 Max has a troubled history
Boeing’s safety record and corporate culture are under intense scrutiny after a series of high-profile quality problems, including a near-catastrophic loss of air pressure earlier this year. The incident on an Alaska Airlines flight led the FAA to order a temporary shutdown of 171 aircraft for inspection, while airlines worldwide temporarily took their Max 9s out of service. No one was injured and the plane landed safely.
The 737 Max has a problematic history. The jet was grounded by regulators worldwide after deadly crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019 that killed hundreds of passengers on board. What followed was a 20-month period in which lawmakers and others denounced Boeing’s safety culture, resulting in billions of dollars in lost sales and other costs. The model’s grounding was lifted in the United States in November 2020 after Boeing made a series of software upgrades and training changes. Other countries followed. (ed./Bloomberg)
Read more about these topics: