Charleston PD confirms investigation into death of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The Charleston Police Department (CPD) confirmed Tuesday morning that it is investigating the death of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett.
A spokesman for the agency, Sgt. Anthony Gibson, said officers were dispatched to conduct a welfare check at the Holiday Inn off Savannah Highway on Saturday just before 10:30 a.m.
Officers arrived to find a male inside a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Charleston County Coroner’s Office identified the man as 62-year-old John Barnett of Louisiana.
“Detectives are actively investigating this case and are awaiting the formal cause of death, along with any additional findings that might shed further light on the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Barnett,” said Sgt. Gibson.
He went on to say, “We understand the global attention this case has garnered, and it is our priority to ensure that the investigation is not influenced by speculation but is led by facts and evidence. Given the sensitive nature of the investigation, we are unable to participate in media interviews at this time. This stance is not unique to this case but is a standard procedure we adhere to in order to preserve the integrity of active investigations.”
Barnett was a 32-year veteran of Boeing, according to The Hill. His 2019 whistleblower allegations claimed that overworked employees the company’s North Charleston plant frequently fitted substandard parts on planes and reported faulty oxygen systems that could result in as many as 1 in 4 oxygen masks not operating properly.
Boeing denied Barnett’s claims, but a follow-up investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration lent credence to some aspects of his allegations. A report found that more than 50 “non-conforming” parts were unable to be traced and were lost in the company’s system.
Barnett was in Charleston to be questioned for a long-running retaliation suit against the company.
His death comes as Boeing is under increased regulatory scrutiny for its 737 Max aircraft manufacturing process after a door blew out of a flight midair in January. The incident launched a widespread investigation into Boeing manufacturing, discovering lax quality control.
Barnett’s claims were not related to the 737 Max or the Washington manufacturing plant involved in the scandal.
In a statement to the BBC, Boeing said: “We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
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The Hill contributed to this report.
