The aviation industry is grappling with the deaths of two whistleblowers who had raised concerns about safety practices at Boeing and its suppliers.
Joshua “Josh” Dean, a quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, died on April 25, 2024, after a sudden illness involving influenza, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and pneumonia. He was 45.
His death follows that of another whistleblower, John Barnett, 62, who died in March 2024 from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Barnett was testifying in his retaliation lawsuit against Boeing at the time of his death.
Dean had been in critical condition for days before his death. He had been airlifted from a Wichita, Kansas hospital to one in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as his condition deteriorated. He lived in Wichita, Kansas, which is home to Spirit AeroSystems. He was known for maintaining good health and leading a healthy lifestyle.
In a joint statement to Fox News Digital, attorneys Brian Knowles and Rob Turkewitz described Josh’s death as a significant loss for both the aviation community and the flying public. They added, “He showed remarkable courage in standing up for what he believed to be true and right.”
Dean lost his job at Spirit AeroSystems in 2023 and filed a retaliation complaint with federal labor officials, alleging he was terminated for flagging safety concerns regarding Boeing’s 737 MAX planes.
In particular, he highlighted improperly drilled holes in the aircraft’s fuselage. He was also deposed in a shareholder lawsuit against Spirit AeroSystems, where he disclosed defects in the aft pressure bulkhead of the 737 MAX jets. Spirit acknowledged these defects in August 2023, after Dean’s termination.
Dean was among the first whistleblowers to allege that senior management at Spirit AeroSystems overlooked manufacturing defects in the 737 MAX. He had filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Labor alleging that his termination was in retaliation for raising safety issues. The FAA investigation concluded that the safety issues were “appropriately addressed under an FAA-approved safety program,” but the details were withheld due to privacy considerations.
Similarly, John Barnett, a former Boeing quality manager, had raised concerns about safety lapses at Boeing’s North Charleston, South Carolina plant, where he worked on the 787 Dreamliner.
He had been with the company for over 30 years before resigning due to job-related stress. Barnett filed a lawsuit and an administrative complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), alleging he was harassed, spied on, and urged to cut corners by Boeing managers. OSHA found no reasonable cause to believe Boeing had violated whistleblower laws.
Barnett died in March 2024 from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound outside a hotel in Charleston, South Carolina. According to his lawyers, Barnett relived painful memories during the depositions and struggled with the ongoing litigation.
Barnett’s family continues his lawsuit, seeking “justice and accountability.” They believe that Boeing’s alleged retaliation significantly contributed to his deteriorating mental health. Barnett’s attorney, Brian Knowles, who also represents Dean, emphasized that they both stood up for what they believed was right. “Aviation companies should encourage and incentivize those who raise these concerns,” Knowles shared with the media. “Otherwise, safety and quality are truly not these companies’ top priorities.”
The deaths of both whistleblowers come at a time when Boeing is under intense scrutiny for safety practices, particularly regarding its 737 MAX program. The aircraft model was grounded globally in 2019 after two crashes that claimed 346 lives. While the planes have since returned to service, Boeing has struggled to regain public trust and address ongoing quality control issues.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun recently announced he would step down at the end of the year. The company is discussing acquiring Spirit AeroSystems to improve its manufacturing quality and has pledged to advance $425 million to Spirit to help rectify its safety issues.
The aviation community mourns Dean and Barnett’s deaths while calling for stronger protections and incentives for whistleblowers. Their stories underline whistleblowers’ challenges and risks when speaking up against large corporations.