John Barnett, the former Boeing quality manager who raised significant concerns about the company’s safety standards.
John Barnett, a former Boeing employee who bravely spoke out about the aerospace giant’s production standards and safety protocols, has been found dead in the United States. Barnett, who spent over three decades at Boeing as a quality control manager before retiring in 2017, had become a prominent whistleblower, alleging that the company prioritized speed and profit over passenger safety. His death comes during ongoing legal proceedings against Boeing and at a time of heightened scrutiny over the company’s manufacturing processes.
Barnett’s career with Boeing spanned 30 years, culminating in a quality manager role at the North Charleston, South Carolina facility starting in 2010. This plant is responsible for assembling the 787 Dreamliner, a flagship aircraft renowned for its long-haul capabilities. It was during his tenure at this plant that John Barnett witnessed and reported practices he believed compromised safety. In a 2019 interview with the BBC, John Barnett revealed alarming claims about the pressure on Boeing workers leading to the installation of substandard parts on aircraft. He further exposed critical issues concerning oxygen systems, suggesting a potentially catastrophic failure rate of 25% for passenger oxygen masks in emergencies.
John Barnett detailed how the relentless drive to increase production at the North Charleston plant resulted in a rushed assembly process where safety was often sidelined. He stated that procedures designed to meticulously track aircraft components were routinely ignored, allowing defective parts to go unaccounted for. In some instances, he claimed, compromised parts were even retrieved from scrap bins and fitted onto newly manufactured planes to avoid production delays. His allegations about the oxygen systems were particularly concerning, as tests purportedly indicated that one in four systems on the 787 Dreamliner could fail to deploy in a real emergency scenario. Despite bringing these issues to the attention of Boeing management, John Barnett asserted that his concerns were disregarded, and no meaningful corrective actions were taken.
While Boeing vehemently denied John Barnett’s claims, a 2017 review conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US aviation regulator, partially substantiated his allegations. The FAA review confirmed that the location of at least 53 “non-conforming” parts within the North Charleston factory was unknown, deeming them lost. Boeing was subsequently mandated to implement remedial measures to address these systemic issues. Regarding the oxygen cylinder concerns, Boeing acknowledged that in 2017, they had “identified some oxygen bottles received from the supplier that were not deploying properly.” However, the company maintained that none of these faulty components were actually installed on operational aircraft.
Following his retirement, John Barnett initiated a protracted legal battle against Boeing. He accused the company of damaging his reputation and obstructing his career progression as retaliation for his whistleblowing activities – accusations that Boeing refuted. At the time of his death, John Barnett was in Charleston actively involved in legal depositions related to this ongoing lawsuit. He had recently undergone formal questioning from Boeing’s legal team and was cross-examined by his own legal counsel. Further questioning was scheduled for the Saturday following his death. When he failed to appear for the deposition, inquiries were made at his hotel, leading to the discovery of his body in his truck in the hotel parking area. The Charleston County coroner reported that the 62-year-old died on March 9th from a “self-inflicted” wound, with police currently conducting further investigations.
Boeing issued a statement expressing sadness at John Barnett’s passing, stating, “We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.” John Barnett’s untimely death occurs at a critical juncture for Boeing, as both the company and its key supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, face intense scrutiny regarding their production standards. This increased attention follows a concerning incident in early January involving a near-new Boeing 737 Max. During a flight shortly after takeoff from Portland International Airport, an unused emergency exit door detached mid-air. A preliminary report from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) suggested that four crucial bolts, designed to secure the door panel, were missing. Adding to Boeing’s woes, the FAA recently announced the findings of a six-week audit, revealing “multiple instances where the company allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements.” The death of John Barnett, a man who dedicated his career to ensuring aircraft safety and then bravely spoke out about potential lapses, underscores the gravity of the ongoing concerns surrounding Boeing’s commitment to safety and quality in its manufacturing processes.
