Boeing Whistleblower John Barnett Dies Under Mysterious Circumstances

John Barnett was a quality manager at Boeing who spent decades working for the company. He began his career at Rockwell International, where he worked as an electrician on the Space Shuttle program.

In 1986, Barnett joined Boeing as a quality inspector and moved to the Camano Islands. However, he soon found himself overwhelmed by his seven-day workweek schedule and dropped out of Seattle University before graduating.

Barnett's concerns about safety and quality control began to grow in the early 2010s, particularly at the Boeing South Carolina plant, where the 787 was being produced. He accused the company of prioritizing profits over safety, citing issues such as metal shavings near wiring for flight controls and a shortage of oxygen on planes.

Barnett's complaints led to an FAA-ordered remedial action based on his concerns about non-conforming parts and metal shavings. Boeing's internal investigation also corroborated his claims about faulty oxygen systems, but the company continued to deny any wrongdoing.

Despite being demoted in 2013 and filing an ethics complaint, Barnett remained outspoken about Boeing's safety record. He filed a whistleblower complaint with OSHA in 2017, which was eventually closed in favor of the airline. However, his lawyers immediately filed a retaliatory lawsuit against Boeing, alleging that the company had subjected him to retaliation for speaking out.

In 2024, Barnett returned to Louisiana and traveled to Charleston, South Carolina, for a deposition regarding his whistleblower complaint. It was during this trip that he was found dead in his car, with a note reading 'I can't do this any longer' and 'I pray Boeing pays.'