Former Boeing employee John Barnett, known for raising concerns about Boeing’s production standards, was found dead in the US.
He worked for Boeing for 32 years, retiring in 2017 due to health reasons. Before his death, he was giving evidence in a whistleblower lawsuit against Boeing.
Barnett alleged that Boeing workers were fitting sub-standard parts to aircraft and uncovered issues with oxygen systems. Despite alerting management, he claimed no action was taken.
Boeing denied his claims, but a 2017 FAA review upheld some concerns. Barnett’s death comes amid scrutiny over Boeing’s production standards, following incidents like an emergency exit door blowing off a Boeing 737 Max.
The FAA found multiple instances of alleged non-compliance with manufacturing quality control requirements.
This tragic event highlights the challenges whistleblowers face and the importance of maintaining production standards in aerospace.
(Based on BBC reporting)
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-68534703