John Barnett’s Family Discusses His Vision for Cultural Shift
The legal team representing John Barnett, a former Boeing employee and whistleblower who was found dead in an apparent suicide, has praised him as a “brave, honest man of the highest integrity.” Barnett, who retired from Boeing in 2017 after more than 30 years of service, was actively providing evidence in a lawsuit against the company when he passed away.
His attorneys, Robert Turkewitz and Brian Knowles, have called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death, expressing disbelief at the tragedy. Barnett was engaged in a whistleblower retaliation case related to serious safety concerns he had raised about the Boeing 787 Dreamliner during his tenure as a quality manager at the North Charleston plant.
Barnett had exposed safety issues with the Dreamliner and faced retaliation, leading him to file a lawsuit against Boeing after his retirement. The legal battle involved accusations of character denigration and career hindrance, which Boeing vehemently denied. Despite ongoing legal proceedings, Barnett was in good spirits and looking forward to moving past this phase of his life, according to his attorneys.
The whistleblower had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and declining health, attributed to the hostile work environment at Boeing. His brother, Rodney Barnett, revealed that John Barnett had hoped the legal action would force Boeing to change its corporate culture. Barnett, recognized for raising concerns about production standards, had previously disclosed instances where under-pressure workers allegedly fitted sub-standard parts to aircraft on the production line.
Boeing, in response to Barnett’s claims, denied the allegations. However, a 2017 review by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledged some of Barnett’s concerns, including the loss of at least 53 “non-conforming” parts in the factory. Additionally, serious issues with oxygen systems were identified, although Boeing contested that defective components had been installed on aircraft.
Barnett’s death occurs during a period of heightened scrutiny on production standards at Boeing and its key supplier, Spirit Aerosystems. The FAA recently conducted a six-week audit, revealing multiple instances where Boeing allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements. As the investigation into Barnett’s death continues, his legal team emphasizes the need for a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
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