Boeing Co. has agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of John Barnett, a former employee and whistleblower who died by suicide in March 2024.
Barnett, who worked at Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner plant in North Charleston, South Carolina, had been in the midst of giving a deposition in a retaliation lawsuit when he was found dead. He had previously raised safety concerns about production practices at the facility. His death, later ruled a suicide, drew international attention and intensified scrutiny of Boeing’s manufacturing culture.
At the time of Barnett’s death, Boeing was also under federal investigation after a door plug panel blew off a 737 Max midflight from a Seattle-area factory.
According to a Sept. 26 court filing, the proposed settlement would dismiss all claims brought by Barnett’s estate. Roughly $20,000 of the payout will cover legal fees and costs, with the remainder going to Barnett’s family. The full terms of the agreement remain confidential.
Boeing emphasized in the filing that it “denied and continues to deny that any act or omission on its part” contributed to Barnett’s death.
In a statement, the company said: “We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s death and extend our condolences to his family as we reach this resolution. Boeing took actions several years ago to review and address the issues that Mr. Barnett raised.”
The settlement is pending approval from a federal judge in Charleston.
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