John Barnett, a former Boeing quality control manager who bravely raised concerns about the aerospace giant’s production standards, has been found dead in the United States. His passing comes at a critical time when Boeing faces intense scrutiny over its safety and manufacturing processes.
Barnett, who dedicated 30 years of his career to Boeing before retiring in 2017, had been actively involved in a whistleblower lawsuit against his former employer. In the days leading up to his death, he was providing crucial evidence in this legal battle, highlighting his unwavering commitment to the truth.
Boeing expressed its condolences upon learning of Mr. Barnett’s death. The Charleston County coroner’s office confirmed to the BBC on Monday that the 62-year-old’s death on March 9th was due to a “self-inflicted” wound, with police currently conducting further investigations.
Barnett’s career with Boeing spanned three decades, culminating in his role as a quality manager at the North Charleston facility from 2010. This plant is responsible for assembling the 787 Dreamliner, a flagship aircraft renowned for its long-haul capabilities.
Whistleblower Allegations of Compromised Safety
In 2019, John Barnett became a prominent whistleblower, speaking out to the BBC about alarming practices within Boeing’s production line. He revealed that workers, under immense pressure to meet production targets, were deliberately installing substandard parts on aircraft.
His disclosures extended to critical oxygen systems, where he claimed that tests indicated a staggering 25% failure rate for passenger breathing masks in emergencies. This meant potentially one in four masks might not function when needed most.
Barnett asserted that soon after his arrival at the South Carolina plant, he became deeply concerned that the relentless push for increased aircraft production was leading to a rushed assembly process, directly compromising safety standards. Boeing has consistently denied these allegations.
Further accusations from Barnett included claims that Boeing employees were not adhering to established procedures for tracking components within the factory. This breakdown in protocol resulted in defective parts going unaccounted for. In some disturbing instances, he alleged that substandard components were even retrieved from scrap bins and installed on aircraft to avoid production delays.
Regarding the faulty oxygen systems, Barnett emphasized that tests on the 787’s emergency oxygen supply showed a significant failure rate. Despite bringing these serious concerns to the attention of Boeing management, Barnett claimed that no meaningful action was taken to rectify the issues.
FAA Review and Boeing’s Response
While Boeing refuted Barnett’s accusations, a 2017 review conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US aviation regulator, partially validated some of his concerns. The FAA investigation confirmed that the location of at least 53 “non-conforming” parts within the factory was unknown, and these parts were officially classified as lost. Consequently, Boeing was mandated to implement corrective measures.
Addressing the oxygen cylinder issue, 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 oxygen bottles were ever installed on actual aircraft.
Legal Battle and Untimely Death
Following his retirement, John Barnett initiated a protracted legal battle against Boeing. He accused the company of damaging his reputation and hindering his career progression as retaliation for raising safety concerns. Boeing vehemently denied these charges.
At the time of his death, Barnett was in Charleston for ongoing legal interviews related to his lawsuit. He had recently completed a formal deposition where he faced questioning from Boeing’s legal team and subsequent cross-examination by his own legal counsel. Further questioning was scheduled for Saturday. When he failed to appear, inquiries were made at his hotel, leading to the discovery of his body in his truck in the hotel parking area.
His lawyer described his death to the BBC as a “tragedy.” Boeing issued a statement expressing sadness at Mr. Barnett’s passing and extending thoughts to his family and friends.
Heightened Scrutiny on Boeing’s Safety Culture
John Barnett’s death occurs amidst a period of intense scrutiny surrounding production standards at both Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, a key supplier for the aerospace giant. This increased attention was triggered by a concerning incident in early January, where an emergency exit door detached from a brand-new Boeing 737 Max shortly after takeoff from Portland International Airport.
A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicated that four crucial bolts, designed to secure the door panel, were missing. Adding to Boeing’s challenges, 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 circumstances surrounding John Barnett’s death and his courageous whistleblower actions have further amplified the ongoing debate about safety and quality control within Boeing and the broader aviation industry.
