Lawyers for Boeing whistleblower John Barnett, who was found dead in South Carolina in March following an apparent suicide, have blamed his death on the plane maker.
In a joint statement to The Epoch Times on May 21, Mr. Barnett’s lawyers, Robert Turkewitz and Brian Knowles, cited a suicide note allegedly left by the former Boeing employee before his death.
“Mr. Barnett’s last words make clear that while Boeing may not have pulled the trigger, the company is responsible for his death,” his attorneys said. “Mr. Barnett’s family wishes to thank the Coroner, the responders, and all those who have reached out with kind words and support. It is hoped that John’s legacy will be his brave and courageous efforts to get Boeing to change its culture of concealment to one that places quality and safety first.”
Mr. Barnett, 62, was found dead “from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” on the morning of March 9 after staff were dispatched to conduct a welfare check at a Holiday Inn hotel where he was staying, according to the Charleston County Coroner’s Office.
At the time of his death, Mr. Barnett—who had worked for more than 30 years at Boeing before retiring in 2017—had been staying at the hotel ahead of providing testimony in a lawsuit against the aerospace giant.
Whistleblower Was ‘Under Chronic Stress’
Police who arrived at the scene found Mr. Barnett “unresponsive in his vehicle in the parking lot” of the hotel with a Smith & Wesson handgun in his right hand, according to the coroner’s office.
A notebook containing “writing resembling a suicide note” was located on the passenger seat, officials said.
His body was discovered in the vehicle on the same day that he was scheduled to appear in court to deliver his testimony against Boeing.
The report from the Coroner’s office also stated that a review of medical records and interviews with Mr. Barnett’s family, attorneys, and healthcare professionals, revealed he was “under chronic stress in the context of the lawsuit, suffered from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, and grieved the death of his wife.”
“During his time in Charleston, his attorneys reported Mr. Barnett discussed increasing the dose of his anti-anxiety medication,” the report continued.
“The writings found in the vehicle were examined by the Charleston Police Department which found only Mr. Barnett’s fingerprints on the notebook. The writings contained information known only to his family,” it concluded.
At the time of his death, a Boeing spokesperson told The Epoch Times the company was “saddened by Mr. Barnett’s passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
The spokesperson did not provide further comment regarding Mr. Barnett’s allegations against the plane maker.
Second Whistleblower Raises Safety Concerns
Mr. Barnett is not the only Boeing whistleblower to step forward with claims that the company has repeatedly dismissed safety and quality control concerns.In a statement, lawyers for Mr. Salehpour said the alleged “errors in the manufacturing process significantly reduce the lifespan of the plane and may be difficult to identify.”
However, Boeing denied those allegations and stressed it has full confidence in the 787 Dreamliner.
“These claims about the structural integrity of the 787 are inaccurate and do not represent the comprehensive work Boeing has done to ensure the quality and long-term safety of the aircraft,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement to The Epoch Times last month.
The Epoch Times has contacted Boeing for further comment regarding the latest claims made by Mr. Barnett’s lawyers.
