- Boeing whistleblower John Barnett was found dead in South Carolina while being questioned about a lawsuit against the company
- Barnett, who spent about 30 years at Boeing, has raised various safety concerns about the planes, both publicly and in a complaint filed against the company
- “John was in the midst of testifying in his whistleblower retaliation case, which was finally coming to a close,” his attorneys said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE
John Barnett, former head of quality control for Boeing, has been found dead.
The Charleston County Coroner’s Office said a 62-year-old Louisiana man was found dead Saturday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a statement obtained by PEOPLE. The Charleston City Police Department is investigating.
Barnett, who spent about three decades working for Boeing until his retirement in 2017, was in Charleston for legal proceedings related to a whistleblower lawsuit against the company, according to the BBC and Time.
“John was in the midst of testifying in his whistleblower retaliation case, which was finally coming to a close,” his attorneys, Robert Turkewitz and Brian Knowles, said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.“He was in very good spirits and very much looking forward to putting this phase of his life behind him and moving on. We saw no indication that he was going to take his own life. No one can believe that,” they added. “We need more information about what happened to John. Charleston police need to investigate this fully and accurately and tell the public what they have found. No detail can go unanswered.”
The BBC reported that he made a formal statement and was questioned by Boeing’s lawyers last week. On Saturday, he was supposed to be subjected to additional questioning, according to the office.
United Passenger Films ‘Wing Coming Apart’ on Boeing Plane, Warns Crew of ‘Emergency Landing’
“John was a brave, honest man of the utmost integrity. He cared deeply about his family, his friends, the Boeing Company, his co-workers at Boeing, and the pilots and people who flew Boeing airplanes. We have rarely met someone with a more sincere and more immediate character,” his lawyers said.
In a statement from Boeing obtained by PEOPLE on Tuesday, the company said, “We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s passing and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Sergeant Anthony Gibson of the Charleston Police Department acknowledged the “global attention this case has garnered” and said authorities’ priority is to ensure the investigation into Barnett’s death “is not influenced by speculation, but is driven by facts and evidence,” according to the ABC affiliate WCIV and CBS affiliate WCSC-TV.
“Given the sensitive nature of the investigation, we are unable to participate in media interviews at this time,” Gibson said in a statement Tuesday. “This position is not unique to this case, but is a standard procedure we follow to preserve the integrity of active investigations.”
The Charleston Police Department did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE.
Boeing is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
Celal Gunes / Anadolu Agency / Getty
In January 2017, Barnett filed a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration accusing Boeing of retaliating against him, according to The Washington Post. The agency later determined there was no retaliation, but Barnett appealed the decision.
In an interview with the BBC in 2019, Barnett claimed that employees were under pressure to deliberately fit aircraft with substandard parts onto the assembly line.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Barnett also told the BBC of his concerns about the oxygen systems on Boeing’s 787 Dreamliners, stating that one in four breathing masks would not work in an emergency.
An Alaska Airlines flight arrives at Portland Airport with the cargo door open and pets inside
In a statement, Barnett’s family said he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, claiming a “hostile work environment at Boeing” led to his death, NBC News reported.
“John told us that every day is a battle to get management to do the right thing,” the family said in a statement. “He was looking forward to his day in court and hoped it would force Boeing to change its culture.”
The news of his death came as Boeing came under renewed scrutiny after a series of public incidents.
In January, part of a Boeing aircraft exploded mid-flight on an Alaska Airlines flight, an incident that is currently under criminal investigation by the Department of Justice. In a previous statement to PEOPLE, Alaska Airlines confirmed that an investigation is underway, but called it a “normal” part of the process.
Additionally, 50 people were injured aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner when a sudden movement in the air caused the plane to plummet on Monday.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Line at 741741 or going to 988lifeline.org.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education