Questions are swirling surrounding the death of a strategic whistleblower who pulled back the curtain.
The focal point of this narrative is the tragic death of John Barnett, a former quality manager at Boeing, who became widely known as a whistleblower. Barnett’s untimely demise appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Charleston, South Carolina, has sparked an investigation by local police. The authorities have emphasized the importance of leading the investigation with facts and evidence, steering clear of speculation, given the global interest the case has garnered.
John Barnett’s tenure at Boeing spanned almost three decades, a period during which he dedicated himself to ensuring the safety and quality of aircraft production. His retirement in 2017 marked the end of a distinguished career, but not the end of his journey with Boeing. Barnett’s concerns over what he identified as clusters of metal slivers hanging over flight control wiring on several planes, and his subsequent reassignment after urging his bosses to address the issue, laid the groundwork for a larger conversation about safety and ethical responsibility in the aerospace sector.
NEW: 62-year-old Boeing whistleblower John Barnett found dead in his truck after he didn’t show up for a legal interview linked to a case against Boeing.
Barnett worked for Boeing for 32 years and retired in 2017. After retiring, Barnett spoke out about how Boeing was cutting… pic.twitter.com/k3zOqH0REv
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 11, 2024
In 2019, Barnett decided to take his concerns public, contributing to a New York Times story that highlighted safety lapses at Boeing’s North Charleston site. This move made Barnett one of several whistleblowers who dared to shed light on the challenges facing Boeing, a company already navigating its most significant safety crisis following the crashes of two 737 Max 8 jets in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in the tragic loss of 346 lives.
Not to mention their recent issues.
Boeing did express condolences to his family and friends. However, the broader context of Boeing’s safety crisis, including the recent emergency landing of a 737 Max 9 jet due to a cabin panel blowout, underscores a critical juncture for the company. Boeing CEO, Dave Calhoun, has acknowledged the “serious challenge” of winning back the confidence of both officials and airlines.
The ongoing scrutiny of Boeing’s practices was further amplified by Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, who criticized the company for its initial reluctance to cooperate with investigators following the cabin panel incident on an Alaska Airlines flight. Although Boeing has since complied with requests for information, the incident has reignited discussions about quality assurance and safety management within the company.
Adding to Boeing’s challenges is a recent incident involving a Boeing 787, where passengers experienced a sudden drop, leading to injuries. The pilot reported a temporary loss of control, attributing it to gauges going blank. This incident, like others, prompts a closer examination of Boeing’s commitment to safety and its responsiveness to potential hazards.
There is a video floating around the interwebs showing to be an uncovered video from a Boeing plant; just take note that it’s nine years old.
