Boeing Whistleblower’s Lawyers Call For Full-Blown Investigation Into Client’s Death: ‘No One Can Believe It’

John Barnett, the 62-year-old veteran Boeing employee who had raised public safety alarms regarding the North Charleston plant, passed away on Saturday one day after he participated in a deposition with lawyers from the company. He was scheduled for further questioning but did not appear.

According to police, they were called to the Holiday Inn on Savannah Highway where they found Barnett dead in his truck at approximately 10:20 a.m. Saturday, with a gunshot wound to the head, and he was declared dead at the location.

Despite his sudden death occurring between depositions over the weekend, Barnett’s lawyers stated that there were no signs suggesting he would harm himself and described him as being in high spirits. Now, they are calling for a full investigation into his tragic death.

His attorneys, Robert Turkewitz and Brian Knowles, told Fox News, “We are all devastated. We need more information about what happened to John. The Charleston police need to investigate this fully and accurately and tell the public what they find out. No detail can be left unturned.”

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They explained that after his long tenure at Boeing concluded with a retaliation lawsuit, stemming from his actions of uncovering and disclosing safety issues with the 787 Dreamliner, Barnett intended to finish his deposition and proceed with his life.

“He was in very good spirits and really looking forward to putting this phase of his life behind him and moving on. We didn’t see any indication he would take his own life. No one can believe it.”

Boeing expressed their condolences in a statement to FOX Business, stating, “We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

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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.

“Today is a tragic day,” Knowles explained to Corporate Crime Reporter. “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.

“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.