Boeing whistleblower John Barnett found dead in US

May 2, 2024 6:30 AM EDT

By Theo Leggett, Business correspondent, BBC News

John Barnett, a former quality manager at Boeing who raised concerns about manufacturing practices at the company's 787 Dreamliner aircraft, has been found dead in the United States.

Barnett, 53, was found unresponsive at his home in Seattle, Washington, on March 12, 2024, according to the King County Medical Examiner's Office. The cause of death is still under investigation.

Barnett had worked at Boeing for 32 years before he was fired in 2018 after raising concerns about the company's manufacturing practices to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He alleged that Boeing had ignored his warnings about safety issues with the 787 Dreamliner, which has been plagued by a series of problems since it entered service in 2011.

In a statement, Boeing said it was "deeply saddened" by Barnett's death. The company said it was cooperating with the investigation into his death and that it was committed to the safety of its products.

Barnett's death comes at a time when Boeing is facing intense scrutiny over its safety practices. The company has been criticized for its handling of the 737 MAX crisis, which has resulted in the deaths of 346 people in two crashes. Boeing is also facing a number of lawsuits from families of the victims of the crashes.

Barnett's death is a reminder of the importance of whistleblowers in protecting the public from corporate wrongdoing. Barnett's courage in speaking out about his concerns about Boeing's safety practices helped to bring about important changes in the way the company does business.