As the well-kept secrets and lies slowly reveal themselves to the public, Boeing faces the consequences of their poorly produced aircrafts, specifically the 787 Dreamliner. Recent news circulates, claiming that Boeing lacks the necessary safety checks and testing of their planes, putting the lives of many passengers at risk. John Barnett, a former quality control manager of the company, expressed his immense concern at the expense of his own life.
After 32 years working for Boeing, Barnett filed a whistleblower complaint against his former employer for receiving retaliation after raising worries about the safety of their airplanes in 2017. Allegedly, quality control managers, including Barnett, were consistently pressured by higher management to disobey the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by improperly noting or fixing defects found in the aircrafts. Following the consistent issues he noticed and concern he expressed, Barnett was repeatedly ignored and, in return, received poor performance management scores to silence his voice.
In 2019, Barnett and other former employees reported their experiences to The New York Times, and stated that Boeing prioritized their profit over the quality of their planes and the welfare of their passengers. In addition, he shared his discovery that around 1 in 4 oxygen masks failed on these planes, along with many other issues that would put lives at risk during emergencies or even be the cause of them.
On March 9, 2024, a shocking turn of events occurred: Barnett was found dead. For the past year, Barnett has been fighting the lawsuit he filed in 2017, forcing him to relive the traumatic experiences he faced during his employment for Boeing. During the deposition, Barnett had revealed even more of Boeing’s many defects in the production of the 787 Dreamliner, making himself quite powerful enemies. What was claimed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound has many people confused and in disbelief that he would take his own life, considering he had told his family just a few days before:“if anything happens to me, it’s not suicide.” Boeing’s past reputation and determination to cover up their secrets and flaws, leave many people suspicious that foul play was involved in Barnett’s death. Some suspect that his death might have been a possible homicide, considering he was still clutching the gun when he was found dead. Police have continued their investigations, while Boeing has gotten their way yet again.
Regardless, the hostile work environment that Boeing developed left Barnett, in addition to many other employees, suffering from PTSD and reliving the trauma. Barnett expressed his deep fear that Boeing’s aircraft were unsafe, yet his cries were silenced, time and time again. His efforts were not to expose Boeing, but to help them improve and better the company for the safety of their passengers. Despite who is at fault, John Barnett should be respected for his sacrifice and his death should be recognized as an act of heroism.