Boeing Whistleblower dies Joshua Dean, Who Warned Of 737 Max Defects
Boeing is facing scrutiny after the death of a second whistleblower who raised safety concerns about the 737 Max aircraft. Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, died after a short illness. He had filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) alleging “serious and gross misconduct by senior quality management of the 737 production line” at Spirit. Dean’s death comes just months after the death of another Boeing whistleblower, John “Mitch” Barnett, who was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Barnett had spent almost three decades at Boeing and had raised concerns about safety issues with the company’s aircraft. Boeing is now facing investigations from US regulators and the Department of Justice over the deaths of the whistleblowers and the safety concerns they raised.
I. Boeing Whistleblower Deaths Raise Concerns About Safety Culture
The deaths of two Boeing whistleblowers in a short period of time have raised serious concerns about the company’s safety culture. Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, died after a short illness. He had filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) alleging “serious and gross misconduct by senior quality management of the 737 production line” at Spirit.
Dean’s death comes just months after the death of another Boeing whistleblower, John “Mitch” Barnett, who was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Barnett had spent almost three decades at Boeing and had raised concerns about safety issues with the company’s aircraft.
| Name | Position | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Joshua Dean | Quality auditor | Spirit AeroSystems |
| John “Mitch” Barnett | Engineer | Boeing |
The deaths of these two whistleblowers have raised questions about whether Boeing is doing enough to protect its employees who raise safety concerns. Some employees have alleged that they have been retaliated against for speaking out about safety issues. Boeing has denied these allegations, but the deaths of Dean and Barnett have cast a shadow over the company’s safety culture.
II. Boeing Faces Criminal Probe After Door-Panel Blowout
Boeing is now facing a criminal probe after a mid-air door-panel blowout in January on a Boeing 737 Max 9. The incident, which happened shortly after takeoff, forced the plane to make an emergency landing. No one was injured, but the incident raised serious concerns about the safety of the 737 Max.
| Date | Incident | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| January 2023 | Door-panel blowout | Boeing 737 Max 9 |
The criminal probe is being conducted by the Department of Justice. The DOJ is investigating whether Boeing violated an agreement that shielded it from criminal prosecution over the fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
III. Whistleblowers Allege Retaliation and Safety Concerns
Boeing whistleblowers have alleged that they have been retaliated against for speaking out about safety concerns. Some have been fired, while others have been demoted or transferred to less desirable positions. Boeing has denied these allegations, but the deaths of Dean and Barnett have raised questions about the company’s safety culture.
| Whistleblower | Allegation | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Joshua Dean | “Serious and gross misconduct by senior quality management of the 737 production line” | Fired |
| John “Mitch” Barnett | “Clusters or metal slivers” hanging over the wiring of flight controls | Found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound |
The deaths of these two whistleblowers have sent a chilling message to other Boeing employees who may be considering raising safety concerns. It is clear that Boeing needs to take a hard look at its safety culture and make changes to ensure that its employees feel safe speaking out.
IV. Final Thought
The deaths of two Boeing whistleblowers in a short period of time raise serious questions about the company’s safety culture. Boeing has been under scrutiny for its handling of the 737 Max crashes, and the whistleblowers’ deaths have only intensified the pressure on the company. It remains to be seen what the investigations into the whistleblowers’ deaths will uncover, but it is clear that Boeing needs to take a hard look at its safety culture and make changes to ensure that its employees feel safe raising concerns.