CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - The family of John Barnett, a former Boeing quality control manager, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the airplane manufacturer following his tragic suicide. Barnett took his life on March 9, 2024, in Charleston, South Carolina, after several days of intensive questioning by Boeing's attorneys regarding his whistleblowing efforts aimed at exposing defects in the company’s jumbo jets.
According to court documents, Barnett was subjected to a relentless "campaign of harassment, abuse, and intimidation" orchestrated by Boeing. The family's attorneys allege that the company aimed to discredit and humiliate Barnett, pushing him towards resignation or mental breakdown. They noted that the company's actions directly contributed to Barnett's deteriorating mental health, ultimately leading to his suicide.
Boeing has yet to respond to the lawsuit, but they expressed their sorrow over Barnett's death in a recent statement. The company extended condolences to his family, stating, "We are saddened by John Barnett's death and extend our condolences to his family."
John Barnett had a long career with Boeing, serving as a quality control manager until his retirement in 2017. Following his retirement, he emerged as a whistleblower, publicly voicing concerns about significant safety issues he observed during his tenure. Among his alarming claims, Barnett mentioned the presence of discarded metal shavings near critical flight control wiring, which posed a substantial risk for potential catastrophic failures. Additionally, he raised issues with the oxygen systems on a significant portion of Boeing's 787 aircraft, alleging that up to a quarter of these systems were problematic.
Despite raising these concerns to his supervisors and other Boeing officials, Barnett's allegations went largely ignored. The lawsuit states that, rather than addressing his reports, the company retaliated against him. They purportedly provided him with false performance reviews and assigned him less desirable work shifts. As a result, Barnett experienced professional setbacks, including public blame for production delays that alienated him from his colleagues and hindered his ability to secure a transfer to another facility.
The emotional toll from these experiences led to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for Barnett, and his mental health significantly deteriorated over time. The lawsuit asserts, "Whether or not Boeing intended to drive John to his death or merely destroy his ability to function, it was absolutely foreseeable that PTSD and John’s unbearable depression, panic attacks, and anxiety, which would in turn lead to an elevated risk of suicide." The family's statements emphasize that while Boeing may not have directly caused Barnett's death, their actions were a clear and foreseeable contributing factor.
In seeking justice for Barnett, his family is requesting unspecified damages that include compensation for emotional distress, mental anguish, back pay, ten years of lost future earnings, accrued bonuses, health-related expenses, and funds from his life insurance policy. The lawsuit aims not only to hold Boeing accountable for their treatment of Barnett, but also to shed light on the serious implications of their alleged harassment.
In light of this tragic situation, it is important to recognize the resources available for those in crisis. The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers support through a dedicated hotline at 988, as well as an online chat service at 988lifeline.org.
