Boeing Whistleblower, Found Dead, One Week After Testifying.<br />BBC reports that a former Boeing employee exposing <br />concerns regarding the aircraft manufacturer's production <br />standards has been found dead in the United States.<br />In the days before John Barnett's death, the former <br />Boeing employee had been giving evidence in <br />a whistleblower lawsuit against the company.<br />In 2017, Barnett retired from Boeing <br />after working for the company for 32 years.<br />Following news of his death, <br />Boeing said in a statement that it was <br />saddened to hear of Mr Barnett's passing.<br />According to the Charleston County <br />coroner, the 62-year-old died from <br />a "self-inflicted" wound on March 9. .<br />The coroner reportedly added that <br />police are still investigating the death.<br />In 2019, Barnett told BBC a list of safety <br />concerns from his time working at Boeing.<br />Those concerns included under-pressure workers using <br />sub-standard parts in aircraft production lines, as well as <br />serious problems with emergency oxygen systems.<br />BBC reports that Barnett's death comes as both Boeing <br />and its key supplier Spirit Aerosystems are under <br />intense scrutiny following a string of recent incidents. .<br />In January, Boeing's entire 737 MAX fleet was grounded <br />after an unused emergency exit door blew off shortly <br />after takeoff from Portland International Airport.<br />A six-week FAA audit of the company revealed , "multiple instances where the <br />company allegedly failed to comply with <br />manufacturing quality control requirements."
