Summary
- Boeing whistleblower John Barnett died by suicide, according to the Charleston County Coroner’s Office.
- Barnett left a note indicating personal distress; police emphasize facts guided the investigation.
- Before retiring, Barnett raised certain safety concerns at Boeing.
The Charleston County Coroner’s Office in South Carolina released documents on May 17, 2024, determining that Boeing whistleblower John Barnett died by suicide. The Charleston Police Department also disclosed their findings regarding the death of a Boeing whistleblower, aligning with the conclusions of the Charleston County Coroner’s Office.
On March 9, 2024, the body of the former Boeing employee was discovered in his truck outside the Holiday Inn at 301 Savannah Highway, with a gunshot wound to his head. Instead of media interviews, coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal released the following statement, saying:
“It has been an honor to serve the Barnett Family during this difficult time. It is my hope that the world will remember John Barnett not for the manner in which he died, but for the manner in which he lived.”
Photo: Ryan Fletcher | Shutterstock
According to the police statement, a note penned by Barnett was discovered in the passenger seat, indicating he was experiencing significant personal distress. Barnett’s fingerprints were identified on the note and notebook, although three prints were inconclusive due to insufficient detail for identification. In a statement to CBS News, a Charleston Police Department spokesperson said:
“We remain acutely aware of the sensitivity and public interest surrounding this case. It is important to emphasize that our investigation was guided strictly by facts and evidence while remaining undisturbed by conjecture and external pressures.”
The news of his death garnered global attention as Barnett, who had worked for Boeing for 32 years, filed a whistleblower complaint alleging safety concerns. Barnett was in the process of providing depositions, claiming Boeing had retaliated against him for raising concerns about quality issues. He was set to continue these depositions on the day his body was discovered.
What were the issues Barnett raised?
The timeline of Barnett’s initial complaints to Boeing remains unclear, as does the sequence of subsequent concerns he raised.
However, in 2019, Barnett informed the BBC that due to employee pressure, substandard parts were being used to manufacture 787s. He stated that these issues emerged shortly after operations commenced in South Carolina, expressing his belief that the process was rushed and unsafe.
Photo: KITTIKUN YOKSAP | Shutterstock
While the manufacturer refuted certain concerns raised by Barnett, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) review substantiated some of his claims. A 2017 assessment validated Barnett’s assertion that the whereabouts of at least 53 non-conforming parts were unaccounted for. However, this was just one of Barnett’s many concerns.
While on the job, he discovered that 25% of tests conducted on the emergency oxygen systems of the 787s were unsuccessful. Boeing acknowledged receiving some oxygen bottles from the supplier that failed to deploy correctly, clarifying that none had been installed on any aircraft.
After retiring, Barnett filed a defamation lawsuit against Boeing, claiming that the company damaged his career because he voiced the problems he encountered while working there.
Related
John Barnett: What Boeing’s Biggest Whistleblower Claimed About The Company
Barnett was found dead in his car last week while facing a legal battle with Boeing.
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