Boeing Whistleblower John Barnett Dies After Sudden Infection
Barnett raised concerns about manufacturing practices at the company's 787 Dreamliner factory.
He died on Tuesday morning in Wichita, Kansas, after spending two weeks hospitalized in critical condition.
John Barnett, a former Boeing quality manager who became a whistleblower, died on Tuesday morning in Wichita, Kansas, after spending two weeks hospitalized in critical condition after contracting a sudden infection.
Barnett's mother told CBS News that her son had raised concerns about the safety of Boeing's planes. He had been scheduled to give a deposition in a lawsuit against Boeing on Wednesday.
Barnett's death is a reminder of the risks that whistleblowers face when they speak out about corporate wrongdoing.
"John Barnett was a brave man who spoke out about safety concerns at Boeing," said CBS News legal analyst Rikki Klieman. "His death is a tragedy, and it should serve as a wake-up call to all of us about the importance of protecting whistleblowers."
Boeing has been under fire in recent years for a series of safety problems with its 737 Max jetliner. Two fatal crashes involving the plane led to its grounding in March 2019. Boeing has since made changes to the plane's design and software, and the 737 Max is expected to return to service later this year.
It is not yet clear if Barnett's concerns about the 787 Dreamliner are related to the problems with the 737 Max. Boeing has said that the 787 Dreamliner is a safe aircraft.
Barnett's death is a reminder of the importance of whistleblowers in protecting the public from corporate wrongdoing. We need to do more to support whistleblowers and to make it easier for them to come forward with their concerns.
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