The family of a whistleblower at Boeing who killed himself last year is suing the US plane manufacturer, alleging the company’s conduct caused his death.
Boeing pushed John Barnett to his death by harassing and intimidating him after he raised safety concerns about the company’s plant building the 787 Dreamliner in Charleston, South Carolina, a wrongful death lawsuit filed in federal court in the state alleges.
The world’s second-largest aeroplane maker has faced significant scrutiny over its safety during a years-long crisis started by two fatal crashes of its bestselling 737 Max aircraft in 2018 and 2019. Last year a door panel blew out of a Boeing plane in mid-air after engineers failed to replace crucial bolts, raising yet more concerns over the company’s safety culture.
The crises have also raised questions over how Boeing treated people voicing concerns.
Barnett was a quality manager at Boeing for nearly three decades, starting at Everett, Washington state, before his move to South Carolina. He took early retirement in 2017, at which point he was experiencing symptoms of depression and severe anxiety, according to the claim.
He then shared concerns over Boeing’s safety processes with journalists, becoming known publicly as a whistleblower. His allegations included finding metal shavings near critical control wires, and problems with onboard oxygen systems.
His family claim in their suit that Boeing responded by carrying out a “campaign of harassment, abuse and...
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