The family of a Boeing whistle blower who had raised alarm over the company’s safety flaws and later died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound has filed a lawsuit against the company alleging wrongful death.
John Barnett, 62, of Louisiana, was a former Boeing quality inspector and worked for the aviation giant for more than three decades.
He died on March 9, 2024. His attorneys at the time said he was in Charleston to testify in a deposition in his federal legal action against Boeing. Charleston police said there was no indication foul play was suspected.
In a civil action complaint filed in Charleston court Wednesday, his family says Barnett was a dedicated employee who found meaning in his job of ensuring plane safety — but his life was turned upside down after he flagged safety issues and Boeing allegedly retaliated and sought to "break him" in a campaign of harassment and intimidation.
The suit accuses the aviation giant of wrongful death and abuse of process.
Barnett had worked for Boeing for 32 years, with 17 of them as a quality manager. Barnett last worked for the company at its 787 plant in North Charleston, known as Boeing South Carolina (BSC).
The complaint said Barnett was proud of his job at Boeing, “took his role seriously in protecting the flying public” and wanted to ensure that “every possible defeat was identified, documented and remedied.”
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