Boeing whistleblower John Barnett found dead

Police investigating death of former quality control manager

March 12, 2024 8:14 PM EDT CBS News

A prominent Boeing whistleblower and former quality manager who raised concerns about manufacturing issues at the company's South Carolina plant has been found dead.

John Barnett, 62, was found dead in his Clemson orange Dodge Ram truck on March 12, 2024, with a silver pistol in his hand, according to the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. Barnett's death is being investigated as a suicide, but no official cause of death has been released.

Barnett was a former quality control manager at Boeing's South Carolina plant, where the company assembles its best-selling 787 Dreamliner jet. In 2018, Barnett went public with his concerns about manufacturing defects at the plant, alleging that Boeing was putting profits ahead of safety.

Barnett's allegations led to a whistleblower lawsuit against Boeing, which is still ongoing. Barnett had been providing evidence in the lawsuit and was scheduled to be deposed next week.

Boeing has denied Barnett's allegations, saying that its aircraft are safe and that it complies with all applicable safety regulations.

Barnett's death has raised questions about the safety of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner jet and the company's commitment to quality control. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating a fatal crash of a 787 Dreamliner in China in March 2022.

Barnett's death is a reminder of the importance of whistleblowers in protecting the public from corporate misconduct. Whistleblowers often face retaliation from their employers, and Barnett's death is a tragic example of the risks that whistleblowers take.