John Barnett had worked for Boeing for 32 years before retiring in 2017. Prior to his death, he was involved in a whistleblower lawsuit against Boeing, where he had been giving evidence. The Charleston County coroner confirmed on Monday that Barnett’s cause of death was a “self-inflicted” wound, and police are currently investigating the matter.
During his time at Boeing, Barnett worked as a quality manager at the North Charleston plant, responsible for the production of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft. In 2019, Barnett revealed to the BBC that he had discovered workers fitting sub-standard parts to the planes on the production line, due to the pressure to meet deadlines. He also raised concerns about serious issues with the oxygen systems, which could potentially render one in four breathing masks ineffective during an emergency.
Boeing expressed their condolence upon hearing of Barnett’s passing. The company denied any allegations of compromising safety standards and rushing the assembly process. Barnett’s claims have brought attention to the importance of maintaining quality and safety in the aviation industry.
The circumstances surrounding Barnett’s death are still under investigation, and further details have yet to be disclosed.
Also read:FAA audit of Boeing’s 737 Max production found dozens of issues Barnett had revealed that workers failed to follow procedures to track components, resulting in missing defective parts. Allegedly, sub-standard parts were even taken from scrap bins and used in the production of planes to avoid delays. He had also disclosed that tests on the emergency oxygen systems for the 787 showed a failure rate of 25%, posing a potential risk in real-life emergencies.Despite alerting management to these issues, no action was taken, according to Barnett. Interestingly, a 2017 review by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) did acknowledge some of Barnett’s concerns.
The company was ordered to take action after it was discovered that 53 “non-conforming” parts in a factory were lost and their location was unknown. The company admitted to identifying oxygen bottles that were not functioning properly in 2017, but denied fitting them onto aircraft.
Before his death, Barnett had been involved in a legal battle against the company. He had accused Boeing of damaging his reputation and impeding his career due to the issues he raised. The company, however, denies these allegations.
Barnett had deposed in the case last week, which was followed by questioning from both Boeing’s lawyers and his own counsel. He did not appear for further questioning, prompting inquiries at his hotel, and he was found dead in his truck at the car parking.
