Boeing Sued by Family of Deceased Whistleblower

The family of John Barnett, a Boeing whistleblower who allegedly took his own life last year, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company. The lawsuit claims that Barnett was subjected to harassment and humiliation by Boeing after exposing corruption and raising concerns about safety issues within the company’s factories and assembly lines.

Reportedly, the lawsuit was filed in a South Carolina court on Wednesday by Barnett’s family. The 146-page legal filing attributes his death to a relentless campaign of harassment and retaliation orchestrated by his managers at Boeing.

"Whether or not Boeing intended to drive John to death or merely destroy his ability to function, it was absolutely foreseeable that Boeing's conduct would result in PTSD and John's unbearable depression... Boeing's conduct was the clear cause, and the clear foreseeable cause, of John's death," says the lawsuit.

Additionally, the lawsuit commends Mr. Barnett’s dedication and unwavering commitment to his job, describing him as an idealistic worker who always prioritized the safety of the flying public. It further accuses Boeing of subjecting him to harassment, removing him from the safety investigation he was working on, and blacklisting him from transferring to other positions within the company, the lawsuit also accuses the company of forcing the friends of John to cease all contact with him after he was fired from the company

Boeing is already struggling with numerous challenges, including labor strikes, financial losses, production declines, quality control and safety concerns, and ongoing legal issues. The latest lawsuit further exacerbates the company’s troubles as it fights to remain competitive with Airbus, which has already surpassed it in production rates. In 2024, Boeing delivered only 348 aircraft the lowest output since the pandemic while its rival Airbus delivered 766 planes during the same period, widening the gap between the two manufacturers.