Boeing Whistleblower Dies Weeks After Another Whistleblower's Suicide
John Barnett, a former quality control manager at Boeing, passed away on Tuesday after a brief illness. Barnett was fired from the company in April 2023 after he raised safety concerns about the 737 Max line of planes.
Barnett's death is the second such tragedy in recent months. In March 2023, another Boeing whistleblower, Ed Pierson, died by suicide. Pierson had also raised concerns about the safety of the 737 Max.
The deaths of Barnett and Pierson have raised questions about the treatment of whistleblowers at Boeing. Some have accused the company of retaliating against those who speak out about safety concerns.
Boeing has denied any wrongdoing and said that it is committed to protecting whistleblowers. However, the company has faced criticism for its handling of previous whistleblower cases.
In 2019, Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a former whistleblower who claimed that he was fired after reporting safety concerns about the 787 Dreamliner.
The deaths of Barnett and Pierson have renewed calls for stronger protections for whistleblowers. Some lawmakers have introduced legislation that would make it illegal for companies to retaliate against whistleblowers.
It remains to be seen whether Boeing will face any legal consequences for the deaths of Barnett and Pierson. However, the tragedy has cast a spotlight on the importance of protecting whistleblowers who speak out about safety concerns.
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