In a chilling turn of events, John Barnett, a retired Boeing quality-control engineer known for his role as a company whistleblower, was discovered dead in his truck in the parking lot of a South Carolina hotel. The circumstances surrounding his death have fueled speculation and conspiracy theories, particularly given his recent testimony in a lawsuit against the aerospace giant.
Barnett, 62, had raised serious safety concerns regarding Boeing’s manufacturing practices and had provided crucial testimony just days before his tragic demise. The Charleston County coroner, as reported by the BBC, stated that Barnett’s death appeared to be a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a conclusion met with skepticism by some, including Barnett’s attorney, Brian Knowles.
Knowles, expressing doubt about the reported circumstances, labeled the self-inflicted gunshot as “alleged.” In a statement, Knowles conveyed his suspicions, stating, “Today is a tragic day. John had been back and forth for quite some time getting prepared. The defense examined him for their allowed seven hours under the rules on Thursday.”
The whistleblower had been staying at the hotel while providing a deposition in a lawsuit against Boeing. Knowles and co-counsel attempted to contact Barnett on Saturday, but their calls went unanswered, leading them to request the hotel to check on him. Subsequently, Barnett was found dead in his truck.
Knowles emphasized, “We then asked the hotel to check on him. They found him in his truck dead from an alleged self-inflicted gunshot.”
While Knowles reported having spoken with police and the coroner at the hotel, an email to Knowles seeking further details remained unanswered as of Monday night.
Barnett, a Boeing veteran with over three decades of service before retiring in 2017, had previously spoken out against the company. In 2019, he alleged to the BBC that Boeing compromised safety standards in the rush to get its 787 Dreamliner off the production line. His claims included the assertion that up to a quarter of onboard oxygen systems could be faulty, raising concerns about passenger safety.
Boeing, responding to Barnett’s death, released a statement expressing sorrow: “We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.” The aerospace giant has been facing increased scrutiny in recent months due to various issues with its planes, adding an air of suspicion to the already controversial circumstances surrounding Barnett’s death.
