BREAKING: Lawyer Of Dead Boeing Whistleblower Breaks His Silence On Client’s ‘Alleged’ Suicide

John Barnett, a whistleblower associated with Boeing, was found dead in his truck at a Charleston, South Carolina hotel following a pause in deposition proceedings in a lawsuit alleging whistleblower retaliation. His lawyer, Brian Knowles conveyed in an email to Corporate Crime Reporter that Barnett was scheduled for the third day of his deposition in Charleston regarding his AIR21 case.

The 62-year-old had retired in 2017 after a distinguished 32-year career at Boeing but had since been vocal about the company’s alleged safety oversights and malpractices. His death came just days before he was scheduled for further legal interviews in connection with a lawsuit against the aerospace giant.

The whistleblower protection provisions under AIR21 are critical for maintaining safety standards in the aviation industry. Employees who notice and report on safety issues, security lapses, or violations of federal laws related to aviation safety are protected under this act. This means they can’t be fired, demoted, or suffer any unfavorable employment actions as a result of their whistleblowing activities.

“Today is a tragic day,” Knowles explained. “John had been back and forth for quite some time getting prepared. The defense examined him for their allowed seven hours under the rules on Thursday. I cross examined him all day yesterday (Friday) and did not finish. We agreed to continue this morning at 10 a.m. (co-counsel) Rob (Turkewitz) kept calling this morning and his (Barnett’s) phone would go to voicemail.”

Just days before this tragic event, Barnett had been active, providing evidence in the ongoing lawsuit against Boeing and speaking out in an interview with TMZ about his concerns.

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“We then asked the hotel to check on him. They found him in his truck dead from an ‘alleged’ self-inflicted gunshot. We drove to the hotel and spoke with the police and the coroner,” wrote Knowles.

Barnett’s accusations against Boeing were grave. He claimed the company deliberately installed sub-standard parts in their aircraft and accused it of having faulty oxygen systems, with a shocking one in four breathing masks potentially failing in emergencies. His interview raised concerns about the safety protocols and quality controls within Boeing, especially regarding the construction and inspection processes of the 737 and 787 aircraft models.

In his last interview, Barnett detailed systemic issues within Boeing, pointing out that the problems were not limited to the 737 model but were indicative of a broader, company-wide disregard for quality and safety. “One, this is not a 737 problem, it’s a Boeing problem,” Barnett stated. “The reason my concern for that is, back in 2012, Boeing started removing inspection operations off their jobs. So it left the mechanics to buy off their own work.”

Barnett’s allegations extended to Boeing’s supplier relationships, highlighting an instance where a visit to Spirit Aerosystems revealed 300 defects in a section of the airplane. Yet, upon reporting these defects, he was told by a senior manager that they had identified too many issues, suggesting a troubling push towards minimizing the appearance of quality concerns rather than addressing them head-on.

Barnett spent many years working at the facility where Boeing assembles its 787 Dreamliner, a model that has recently been in the news several times. This Monday, about 50 passengers required medical attention from first responders following a significant incident on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route from Australia to New Zealand. The aircraft encountered a technical issue, resulting in a severe jolt that shook passengers in their seats.