John Barnett was known for reporting safety problems at Boeing.
A former Boeing employee who reported production problems and safety shortfalls at the Boeing 787 Dreamliner plant in North Charleston has been found dead, according to reports. BBC.
John Barnett worked at Boeing for 32 years before retiring in 2017. According to the BBC, he was found dead on March 9. The Charleston coroner confirmed death, describing the cause as “self-inflicted injury.”
Boeing said in a statement that it was “saddened” by the news of Barnett’s death, and that its condolences went out to his family and friends, Bloomberg wrote.
According to the BBC, in the days before his death, Barnett gave evidence in a lawsuit against Boeing. He was scheduled to undergo further questioning on Saturday, but when he did not appear, investigations were conducted at the hotel where he was staying.
Barnett was found dead in his truck in the hotel parking lot, according to the BBC.
In 2019, Barnett was quoted by The New York Times as claiming that the North Charleston plant was plagued by production problems and a lack of follow-up, posing a safety threat.
Defective parts were installed on some planes, and metal chips were often left inside the planes, according to the New York Times.
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