The death of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett, a quality control engineer at Boeing for 32 years, has been revealed as a suicide caused by chronic stress, anxiety, and PTSD related to his lawsuit against the aircraft manufacturer. Barnett had alleged that Boeing used defective parts in its planes and warned of potential oxygen issues for passengers on its 787 Dreamliner in the event of sudden decompression. He was found dead at a hotel in March with a gunshot wound, just days after beginning testimony against Boeing in Charleston, South Carolina. Barnett had not responded to a courtesy call from his lawyers on the day he was supposed to resume testimony, leading to a wellness check where he was found deceased.
The autopsy report revealed that Barnett was found with a pistol in his hand and a suicide note on the passenger seat of his truck. Surveillance footage showed him exiting his hotel and the truck before being found with a gunshot wound in the hotel parking lot. He had been scheduled to resume testimony against Boeing, but had failed to show up for the proceedings, prompting his lawyers to call for a wellness check. The report also detailed Barnett’s medical history, which showed that he had been suffering from chronic stress, anxiety, and PTSD as a result of the lawsuit against Boeing.
In a tragic turn of events, another Boeing whistleblower, Joshua Dean, who worked as a quality auditor at Spirit AeroSystems, also passed away in the first week of May. Dean, who was in good health and had an active lifestyle, died in the hospital following the onset of a fast-moving infection. His family reported that he suffered from Influenza B, MRSA, and pneumonia. Both Barnett and Dean had been represented by attorney Brian Knowles, who described them as “heroes” who wanted to help the company do better. Knowles emphasized the importance of not letting these tragedies deter other whistleblowers from speaking up against wrongdoing.
Following the deaths of Barnett and Dean, Santiago Paredes, a former quality manager for Spirit AeroSystems, came forward with claims of being pressured to downplay defects found during inspections of fuselages on the Boeing 737 Max aircraft. Paredes alleged that he was required to minimize any issues he discovered during inspections at Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing’s largest supplier. This revelation, along with the deaths of Barnett and Dean, has raised further concerns about the safety and transparency within the aviation industry. Despite these tragedies, there are still other Boeing whistleblowers who are safe and sound, according to Knowles, who urged others to continue speaking out against misconduct in the industry.
The deaths of John Barnett and Joshua Dean have sparked conversations about mental health and the challenges faced by whistleblowers in speaking out against powerful entities. Barnett’s suicide, in particular, sheds light on the immense pressure and stress that whistleblowers can face when challenging large corporations like Boeing. The importance of providing support and resources for whistleblowers, as well as encouraging a culture of transparency and accountability within companies, has been underscored by these tragic events. It is crucial for individuals who may be struggling with distress or mental health issues to seek help and support from organizations such as the Samaritans or the National Suicide Prevention Helpline.
