Boeing said it was saddened hearing about the death of former colleague John Barnett. The timing of his death is strange. It happened while he was staying in a hotel going through depositions on what he witnessed when he worked for Boeing
BBC reported about his death today, saying he died by a “self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The BBC reported.
Mr. Barnett was employed by the leading American aircraft manufacturer for a period of 32 years until his retirement in 2017 due to health reasons. Starting in 2010, he held the position of a quality manager at the North Charleston facility, where his responsibilities primarily involved the production of the 787 Dreamliner, an advanced commercial airplane primarily utilized for long-distance flights.
Under pressure workers had been deliberately fitting sub-standard parts to aircraft on the production line. He also said he had uncovered serious problems with oxygen systems, which could mean one in four breathing masks would not work in an emergency.
Upon commencing his employment in South Carolina, he expressed apprehension regarding the prioritization of expediting aircraft production, which he believed compromised safety. The company refuted these claims. Subsequently, during an interview with the BBC, he disclosed that workers had neglected to adhere to protocols designed to monitor component movement within the factory, resulting in the loss of defective components. Furthermore, he highlighted instances where subpar parts were retrieved from scrap bins and utilized in the construction of planes to prevent disruptions in the production process.
Tests conducted on the emergency oxygen systems intended for installation on the 787 revealed a 25% failure rate, implying that a quarter of them may fail to activate in an emergency. Despite Mr. Barnett’s efforts to bring his concerns to managers’ attention, no action was taken. Boeing refuted his claims.
Nevertheless, a review conducted in 2017 by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US regulatory body, did support some of Mr. Barnett’s concerns.
After retiring, he initiated a prolonged legal dispute against the company, alleging that it had damaged his reputation and hindered his professional advancement due to the concerns he raised. Boeing, however, refuted these allegations.
Prior to his passing, Mr. Barnett had been in Charleston for legal interviews related to this case. He recently provided a formal deposition during which Boeing’s attorneys questioned him, followed by cross-examination by his own legal counsel. On Saturday, he was scheduled for further questioning.
When he failed to appear, inquiries were made at his hotel, where he was subsequently discovered deceased in his truck in the hotel parking lot.
