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Mystery Surrounds Whistleblower’s Death: Boeing Community Raises Concerns
Edited by: TJVNews.com
The untimely death of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett has sent shockwaves through the Boeing community, leaving his colleagues and peers grappling with unanswered questions and lingering suspicions. According to a recently published report in The New York Post, as details emerge surrounding Barnett’s alleged suicide, employees at the local Boeing plant where he once worked warn of potential foul play, citing Barnett’s outspoken nature and the powerful enemies he made throughout his career.
Barnett’s lifeless body was discovered in his pickup truck in a Charleston, South Carolina, hotel parking lot on March 9, the same morning he was scheduled to conclude private testimony in a lawsuit against Boeing, his former employer, according to the information provided in the Post report. The circumstances surrounding his death have raised eyebrows, with a puzzling discrepancy on his police report adding to the intrigue.
NEW: Boeing whistleblower John Barnett allegedly told his friend that he knew what he was up against and that if he ever died, “it’s not suicide.”
The friend who has been identified as “Jennifer” says she talked to Barnett in February.
Jennifer believes someone “didn’t like… pic.twitter.com/CAi6bxtfU6
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 15, 2024
According to Charleston police, Barnett had extended his stay at the Holiday Inn until March 8 and was captured on surveillance video leaving the hotel that morning. However, hotel staff members informed The Post that Barnett had dined at the hotel’s restaurant on the evening of March 8, casting doubt on the timeline presented in the police report.
Furthermore, Barnett’s driver’s license was reportedly found in his hotel room despite being discovered with a gunshot wound to the head and a pistol in his hand the following morning, the Post report indicated. The alarm was raised by Barnett’s lawyers when attempts to reach him failed, prompting a welfare check that ultimately led to the tragic discovery.
As an investigation into Barnett’s death unfolds, employees at the local Boeing plant remain shaken and skeptical about the circumstances surrounding his demise. One employee, speaking on the condition of anonymity, expressed a sense of unease and disbelief, questioning whether Barnett’s death was indeed a suicide.
“It actually gives me a pit in my stomach because of what he’s been saying, and he’s dead now. Maybe he killed himself,” the source remarked, according to the Post, highlighting the chilling implications of Barnett’s demise in the wake of his whistle blowing efforts.
John Barnett, a former Boing staff, found dead underneath his truck days after he testified against the Boeing as a whistleblower.
— US statstics 🇺🇸 (@UStatstics2024) March 12, 2024
One Boeing employee, speaking anonymously to The Post, expressed a profound sense of disbelief and concern, remarking, “It actually gives me a pit in my stomach because of what he’s been saying, and he’s dead now. Maybe he killed himself.” The sentiment reflects the deep-seated apprehension felt within the company following Barnett’s outspoken criticism of Boeing’s practices.
Amidst the speculation, another employee emphasized to the Post the pervasive atmosphere of surveillance and caution within the company, noting, “We don’t really talk about it on the (assembly) line. We’re on camera from the minute we get on the property. They can hear us. So no one wants to talk about it at work.” This reluctance to discuss Barnett’s death aptly describes the climate of fear and apprehension that prevails among Boeing employees.
Barnett’s whistle blowing activities had reportedly led to him making powerful enemies within the company, further fueling suspicions surrounding his death. Another Boeing employee revealed to the Post, “Nothing surprises me when it comes to Boeing. It’s a good job but you’ve got to stay in line. If you don’t, you won’t work there anymore,” highlighting the potential repercussions of speaking out against the company’s practices.
While Boeing expressed condolences over Barnett’s passing, the company did not directly address the claims and speculation surrounding his death. In a statement to The Post, Boeing stated, “We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends,” deflecting questions about the circumstances leading to his death.
Meanwhile, details emerging from the Holiday Inn, where Barnett was found dead, paint a contrasting picture of his demeanor on the evening of March 8. The Post reported that according to an employee at the hotel, Barnett appeared relaxed and content, enjoying a meal and scrolling through his phone before his tragic demise. “He didn’t seem upset at all,” the employee recalled to the Post, adding to the complexity of the situation.
Barnett’s legacy as a quality control engineer at Boeing, spanning over three decades, underscored the significance of his whistle blowing efforts. As was indicated in the Post report, in a 2019 interview with the BBC, Barnett had raised concerns about Boeing’s production practices, alleging that the company had cut corners in its rush to deliver 787 Dreamliner jets.
Recent incidents have placed a spotlight on the gravity of the situation, prompting industry leaders and regulators to issue warnings and demands for accountability.
The saga began on January 5 when a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet operated by Alaska Airlines experienced a harrowing midair incident, with a door panel blowing off during a flight from Oregon to California, according to the information provided in the Post report. The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation revealed a shocking oversight: the plane was missing four crucial bolts, highlighting serious safety flaws that had gone undetected. This alarming revelation prompted Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, to issue a stern warning, threatening to distance the carrier from Boeing in the aftermath of the incident.
Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, echoed concerns about Boeing’s safety record, cautioning that another midair door blowout could occur if underlying production issues were not addressed, the Post report noted. Homendy’s warning shed light on systemic problems within Boeing’s manufacturing processes, raising urgent calls for reform and oversight.
Tragically, the string of aviation mishaps did not end with the door blowout incident. Disaster struck again when a Boeing aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Japan due to a crack in the cockpit window, underscoring the urgency of addressing structural vulnerabilities in Boeing’s fleet.
Subsequent incidents further compounded concerns about Boeing’s safety standards. The report in the Post also recalled that a Boeing 757 experienced a terrifying mishap when it lost its front tire while preparing for takeoff, prompting a Delta flight to raise an alarm. Additionally, shocking images surfaced of a Boeing 787 adorned with pieces of tape on its exterior during a flight to India, raising questions about the efficacy of Boeing’s maintenance protocols.
The situation escalated when a United Airlines Boeing 777-300 suffered a midair fuel leak, necessitating an emergency landing—a troubling development that marked the fifth incident reported by the airline in a little over a week, as was mentioned in the Post report. The frequency and severity of these incidents have prompted heightened scrutiny of Boeing’s operations and intensified calls for action.
Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, added his voice to the chorus of concerns, the Post said, revealing that he had lodged “loud complaints” with Boeing regarding quality control issues. O’Leary’s remarks indicated the widespread discontent within the aviation industry and the urgent need for Boeing to address systemic deficiencies in its manufacturing processes.
Barnett’s whistle blowing activities had shed light on alleged safety lapses at Boeing, with his decision to go public driven by a deep-seated concern for people’s safety, the Post report said. His untimely death has cast a shadow of doubt over the events leading to his demise, with his lawyers challenging the notion that he took his own life and calling for transparency in the investigation process.
“We need more information about what happened to John,” attorneys Robert Turkewitz and Brian Knowles emphasized in a statement, the Post report said, highlighting the need for a comprehensive and accurate investigation into Barnett’s death. “No detail can be left unturned,” they added, echoing the sentiments of many who knew Barnett and are struggling to come to terms with his sudden passing.
Steve Chancellor, an expert in staged crime scenes, spoke of the significance of certain details in the investigation, noting that the presence of a gun in Barnett’s hand—a common feature in suicide cases—warrants careful scrutiny. “The mere fact that the gun was in the hand, I would pay attention to that,” Chancellor remarked, as was noted in the Post report, suggesting that such details could provide crucial insights into the circumstances surrounding Barnett’s death.
The police report, meanwhile, revealed the discovery of a white piece of paper resembling a note in Barnett’s truck, though its contents have not been disclosed to the public, the report added. This revelation has only fueled speculation and underscored the need for transparency in the investigation process, with many demanding access to all relevant information to better understand what transpired.
With calls for accountability and transparency growing louder, all eyes are on the authorities to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation that honors Barnett’s memory and provides closure to his loved ones and colleagues alike.
