A second whistleblower who came forward alleging safety lapses at aerospace company Boeing has died after battling a severe infection.
The death of Joshua Dean, a quality auditor at supplier Spirit AeroSystems, comes less than two months after whistleblower John Barnett was found dead in a car from an apparent gunshot wound. Dean was fired from the Boeing supplier in April 2023 in retaliation for what he claims was a clear-eyed warning about shortcomings in some of the corporation’s critical safety infrastructure. Dean, 44, died on Tuesday after catching a “sudden illness,” according to a statement by his family.
“I am grateful for the prayers of my family and friends for this young man,” his aunt, Carol Parsons, wrote on Facebook according to the New York Post. “He passed away yesterday morning, and his absence will be deeply felt. We will always love you Josh.”
The health episode began two weeks ago when Dean was rushed to the hospital after he reported difficulty breathing. As his condition began to worsen, doctors intubated him as he developed pneumonia and later MRSA, a Staphylococcus variant that is resistant to many antibiotic regimens. A CT scan also showed that Dean suffered a stroke.
JUST IN: A second whistleblower connected to Boeing has suddenly died at the age of 45 after catching a “sudden illness.”
Whistleblower Joshua Dean was known for being in good health and having a healthy lifestyle.
Dean was one of the first whistleblowers to accuse Boeing… pic.twitter.com/XVac3BlcEU
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 2, 2024
Both Dean and Barnett were represented by Brian Knowles and Rob Turkewitz of the Knowles International Law Firm. Following Barnett’s death on March 9th, both attorneys agreed that their client had reported no signs of suicidal ideation. “We need more information about what happened to John,” they said in a statement at the time. “The Charleston police need to investigate this fully and accurately and tell the public. We didn’t see any indication he would take his own life. No one can believe it. No detail can be left unturned.”
Concerns about the safety of Boeing aircraft, especially the 787 jumbo jet line, reached a high-water mark in early January when the door of a Max 9 passenger plane traveling from Alaska to Portland fell off mid-flight, causing those aboard to fear for their lives and pilots to perform an emergency landing. Alaska Air Group CEO Ben Minicucci ordered the grounding of all Max 9 planes for a month while safety inspections were performed. Other incidents that month, including one aircraft losing a wheel during takeoff and another whose engine caught fire mid-flight, compounded the public’s concerns.
By the end of March, CEO Dave Calhoun and a slew of top executives at Boeing announced they would be exiting their roles by the end of 2024. In a letter to staff announcing the transitions, Calhoun acknowledged that the mishaps have forever changed the company.
“As you all know, the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 accident was a watershed moment for Boeing,” he wrote. “We must continue to respond to this accident with humility and complete transparency. We also must inculcate a total commitment to safety and quality at every level of our company.”
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