Boeing whistleblower dies following a brief illness, weeks after the suicide of another

An aviation employee — who went public with security considerations and alleged retaliation by his employer — has died following a quick sickness, weeks after one other Boeing whistleblower’s demise, attorneys who represented each males stated Thursday.

Joshua Dean, 45, of Wichita, Kansas, died Tuesday after he acquired a number of diagnoses that included the flu, pneumonia and MRSA, prompting his household to hunt an post-mortem, legal professional Robert Turkewitz stated.

“He was a wholesome particular person who ate nicely and exercised,” Turkewitz advised NBC Information. “So it simply appears odd that he went so quick.”

Dean had been sick for 2 weeks and had been struggling to breathe, forcing him to be placed on a ventilator.

“Our ideas and prayers are with Josh and his household,” stated an announcement from Brian Knowles. one other legal professional representing Dean. “Josh’s passing is a loss to the aviation neighborhood and the flying public. He possessed super braveness to face up for what he felt was true and proper and raised high quality and questions of safety.”

Turkewitz and Knowles had additionally represented John Barnett, a 62-year-old Louisiana man, who died March 9 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Charleston, South Carolina, officers stated.

Barnett was on the town for a deposition in his federal authorized motion in opposition to Boeing, along with his case set to go earlier than an administrative legislation choose later this yr, his attorneys stated.

Barnett, who spent greater than three many years at Boeing, advised aviation authorities in 2017 about what he stated have been probably “catastrophic” security failings with the 787 Dreamliner.

Dean was a former high quality auditor at Boeing provider Spirit AeroSystems and he alleged that managers did not act on manufacturing defects on the 737 MAX planes.

Although he was not a plaintiff, he’s talked about in a 2023 shareholder lawsuit in opposition to Spirit.

The “mis-drilled holes” within the rear bulkhead of the MAX planes have been reported by Dean, who submitted “formal written findings to his supervisor” however Spirit “hid the defect,” in keeping with the lawsuit. These holes might create cracks and threaten an plane’s structural integrity.

“Now, I’m not saying they don’t need you to go on the market and examine a job. You realize, they do,” he advised NPR this yr. “However when you make an excessive amount of hassle, you’re going to get the Josh therapy. You’ll get what occurred to me.”

Dean was let go from the corporate April 26, 2023, in what he referred to as an act of retaliation.

“I believe they have been sending out a message to anyone else,” Dean stated. “In case you are too loud, we are going to silence you.”

Spirit stated in an announcement that it’s mourning Dean’s passing, however declined to touch upon his accusations. The provider beforehand advised NPR that it strongly disagrees with the allegations within the swimsuit and is preventing the case in courtroom.

“Our ideas are with Josh Dean’s household,” Spirit spokesperson Joe Buccino stated within the assertion. “This sudden loss is beautiful information right here at Spirit and for his family members.”

The stress of the previous few years might have taken a toll on Dean, Turkewitz stated.

“We have been advised that stress could cause the immune system to weaken and makes you extra prone to pneumonia, the flu and MRSA,” he stated. “He’d been underneath a whole lot of stress for blowing the whistle and being terminated, he believed, on account of blowing the whistle. He’d been making an attempt to get the phrase out and nobody would pay attention.”