Boeing Whistleblower John Barnett Died by Suicide, Coroner Says
The Charleston Police Department revealed in a statement on May 17 that John Barnett’s death was a result of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.
The cause of death of former Boeing quality control manager John Barnett has been confirmed.
The 62-year-old from Louisiana died by suicide on March 9, according to the Charleston County Coroner’s Office, as stated by the Charleston Police Department.
At the time of his death, the coroner’s office reported that Barnett passed away from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was discovered lifeless in his car parked at the Holiday Inn located at 301 Savannah Highway.
The Charleston Police Department’s May 17 statement mentioned that there was “no evidence of forced entry and no signs of a physical struggle within the vehicle.”
Investigations into Barnett’s death uncovered his long history of mental health challenges, which had worsened due to ongoing legal battles related to his whistleblower case, according to police.
A notebook found on the vehicle’s front passenger seat indicated Barnett was experiencing severe personal distress, as stated by the Charleston Police Department.
In a statement made in March, Barnett’s family attributed his death to post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, claiming that a “hostile work environment at Boeing” played a significant role, NBC News reported.
“John told us that every day was a battle to get management to do the right thing,” the family’s statement read. “He was eagerly looking forward to his court day in hopes it would pressure Boeing to change its culture.”
Barnett, who retired in 2017 after nearly three decades at Boeing, was in Charleston, S.C., to testify in his whistleblower case. He had raised safety concerns, reports by Time and the BBC revealed.
The U.S. Department of Labor was in the midst of its investigation and planned to start hearings in June.
His lawyers, Robert Turkewitz and Brian Knowles, stated in March that Barnett was optimistic about concluding this chapter of his life. “John was in good spirits, looking forward to moving on. We noticed no signs indicating he might take his own life,” they said. “We need more information on John’s death. It’s crucial for the Charleston police to thoroughly investigate and disclose their findings. No detail should be overlooked.”
Barnett provided a formal deposition and faced questioning from Boeing’s lawyers a week before his death and was due for further questioning on the subsequent Saturday, as reported by the BBC.
In January 2017, Barnett filed a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, alleging retaliation by Boeing. However, the agency found no evidence of such actions. Barnett appealed the decision, The Washington Post reported.
In a 2019 interview with the BBC, Barnett claimed employees were under pressure to install substandard parts on aircraft production lines. He expressed concerns about the oxygen systems on Boeing’s 787 Dreamliners, saying that one in four breathing masks might fail during an emergency.
Barnett’s death comes amidst growing scrutiny of Boeing following several public incidents, including a mid-flight malfunction of a Boeing aircraft on an Alaska Airlines trip and a sudden mid-air drop of a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that injured 50 people.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or visit 988lifeline.org.
