Charleston, South Carolina – The recent leadership shake-up at Boeing has taken a somber turn as investigators release findings regarding the death of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett.

Circumstances of Barnett’s Death

In March, John Barnett was found dead in his truck, parked at a hotel parking lot in Charleston, South Carolina. Barnett, who failed to attend his second day of depositions in a lawsuit against Boeing, was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators confirmed gunshot residue on his hand and found a suicide note in his vehicle.

Investigation Details

Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal’s report concluded that Barnett’s death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, ruling it as a suicide. Police found Barnett alone in his locked vehicle, with no signs of unusual travel patterns or communications in his phone records. Hotel surveillance footage showed Barnett leaving the hotel alone before the tragic incident occurred.

Legal Battle and Allegations

Barnett, a quality-control engineer who worked at Boeing for over three decades before retiring in 2017, was suing Boeing, alleging retaliation, harassment, and surveillance by the company. Despite Barnett’s concerns about safety compromises, including rushed production of Boeing’s Dreamliner jets and the return of 737 Max 9 jets to service, Boeing’s CEO Dave Calhoun announced his resignation unrelated to Barnett’s lawsuit.

Reaction and Call for Investigation

Barnett’s legal team, while yet to comment on the coroner’s findings, had previously demanded a full investigation into his death mid-deposition.

Conclusion: Updates Await

As the investigation into John Barnett’s death continues, the circumstances surrounding his passing remain under scrutiny. Stay tuned for further developments on this breaking news story.

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