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John Barnett was a former quality manager who raised concerns about safety issues in Boeing’s Dreamliner program before his unexplained death in 2024.
John Barnett began working at Boeing in 1988 as a quality control inspector. (Photo Credit: X)
An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, resulting in the deaths of 241 of the 242 people onboard. This marks the first fatal crash involving the Boeing 787 since it began commercial service in 2009.
The tragedy has reignited scrutiny over Boeing’s manufacturing standards, drawing attention once again to John Barnett, a former quality manager and whistleblower who had raised alarms about safety issues within the Dreamliner program.
Barnett’s warnings have gained renewed relevance following his unexplained death last year.
John Barnett: Who Was He?
On February 23, 1962, John Barnett was born in California. After his parents separated, he reportedly moved to Louisiana with his mother and three older brothers. He graduated from Bolton High School and started out working as a cab driver before joining the U.S. Air Force.
When his training plans didn’t work out, he changed direction and joined Rockwell International in Palmdale, California, where he worked on NASA’s Space Shuttle program, including parts for the Atlantis orbiter.
During the 1980s, he also worked as an electrician on the B-1 Lancer bomber. Eventually, he settled on Camano Island, Washington, and began working for Boeing in 1988 as a quality inspector. His dedication and expertise saw him rise through the ranks, and by 2010, he was reportedly posted at Boeing’s South Carolina plant in North Charleston, home of the 787 Dreamliner production line.
The Remarks of John Barnett Regarding Boeing
Between 2010 and 2017, while working at Boeing’s North Charleston facility, John Barnett voiced growing concerns about a decline in safety standards, according to NDTV. He claimed that staff were under pressure to ignore defects to keep up with production targets.
Barnett highlighted several alarming issues in the aircraft assembly process, NDTV reports. He reported that small metal shavings were being left near critical wiring, posing a serious in-flight risk. He also alleged that roughly one in four oxygen masks could fail during an emergency.
In addition, he reportedly pointed out that some parts were either missing or not properly documented during assembly, indicating serious flaws in safety oversight.
In 2017, John Barnett formally reported his concerns to both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The FAA acknowledged some of the problems he raised and ordered Boeing to address them. However, OSHA dismissed his claims and ruled in Boeing’s favour in 2021—a decision Barnett later appealed.
He also alleged that Boeing retaliated against him for speaking out, denying him promotions, isolating him from colleagues, and fostering a hostile work environment. Facing ongoing health issues, Barnett chose to retire that same year.
In 2019, John Barnett reportedly took his concerns public through media interviews, drawing widespread attention. His whistleblower role was later highlighted in the 2022 Netflix documentary Downfall: The Case Against Boeing, which explored the company’s safety culture in the wake of the 737 MAX crashes.
Even after retiring, Barnett remained vocal. In early 2024, following the Alaska Airlines door plug blowout, he once again spoke out, warning that serious quality control issues at Boeing still hadn’t been addressed.
John Barnett: What Caused His Death?
On March 9 last year, John Barnett was reportedly found dead in his pickup truck outside a hotel in Charleston, South Carolina. He had been staying there while preparing to testify in his whistleblower case against Boeing.
After he failed to attend a scheduled deposition, police performed a welfare check and discovered him with a gunshot wound to the head. A handgun was located in his right hand, and investigators ruled the death a suicide based on forensic evidence.
Also, a handwritten note left behind reportedly read, “I can’t do this any longer. F**k Boeing. I pray Boeing pays.” John Barnett was 62 at the time of his death.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
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Delhi, India, India
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