The death of a Boeing whistleblower has investigators probing for answers. On March 9, John Barnett’s body was found in a hotel parking lot in Charleston, South Carolina, reportedly with a gunshot wound. Despite the coroner’s ruling of a “self-inflicted” gunshot, a close friend, identified only as “Jennifer” by ABC News 4, casts doubt on the findings.
Before his death, Jennifer claims Barnett told her, “If anything happens to me, it’s not suicide.” She remains resolute, stating, “I know he did not commit suicide. There’s no way.”
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Barnett had accused Boeing of using substandard parts in airplane construction, a claim Boeing refuted. Jennifer believes someone aimed to silence Barnett and staged his death to appear as suicide.
While Boeing expressed condolences, Barnett’s attorneys said there is “no indication” he would take his own life.
According to Newsweek, his lawyers’ noted Barnett was nearing the end of a deposition in a whistleblower retaliation case against Boeing.
Meanwhile, Boeing faces criticism with reported incidents involving its planes. In the latest, a LATAM Airlines flight attendant accidentally activated a cockpit seat switch on a 787 Dreamliner, causing a sudden descent, according to The Washington Post.
Around 50 passengers were hurt on the Sydney-to-Auckland flight. Boeing issued a memo advising Dreamliner operators to inspect cockpit seat switches.
The investigation into the flight is ongoing.
