Boeing whistleblower dies in apparent suicide

A prominent Boeing whistleblower was found dead as the result of an apparent suicide, South Carolina officials said. 

John Barnett, 62, was found dead in his truck in a hotel parking lot Saturday. The Charleston County Coroner’s office said he died Friday from an apparent self-inflicted injury, according to The Hill.

Barnett, who had worked at Boeing for 32 years, came forward with whistleblower allegations in 2019 claiming that employees were overworked at the South Carolina plant and they often put substandard equipment on planes. He also claimed that there were issues with oxygen systems that resulted in as many as a quarter of all oxygen masks not properly working.

Boeing denied the allegations, but the Federal Aviation Administration's follow-up probe supported some of Barnett's claims. A report stated that dozens of "non-conforming" parts were untraceable and lost in Boeing's system.

Barnett's allegations were not related to recent reports of problems with Boeing's 737 Max.

Boeing expressed its condolences after Barnett's passing. 

"We are saddened by Mr. Barnett's passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends," the company told the BBC.

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