In a tragic turn of events, John Barnett, a whistleblower and former quality manager at Boeing, was discovered dead in his truck at a hotel in Charleston, South Carolina. The incident occurred following a break in depositions for a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit, according to Barnett's lawyer, Brian Knowles.

Barnett, who had dedicated almost three decades of his career to Boeing, expressed his love for the company and its planes. However, things took a turn for the worse when he was transferred to Boeing's Charleston plant in 2010, where the 787 Dreamliner is manufactured.

Speaking about the change in leadership, Barnett revealed that the new team from St. Louis, Missouri seemed to prioritize pushing aircraft out without adhering to proper procedures and compromising safety. He voiced concerns over the pressure to not document defects and work outside established protocols.

Recently, Barnett had been in contact with reporters, discussing production issues at Boeing, including the alarming incident involving a mid-air blowout of a door plug on an Alaska Airlines flight in January that led to decompression. His efforts to shed light on internal practices at the company raised questions about the quality control measures in place.

The circumstances surrounding Barnett's untimely death have raised eyebrows, especially considering the timing. Knowles stated that Barnett was scheduled to continue his deposition as part of the AIR21 case, a federal law offering whistleblower protection in the aviation industry.

Knowles recounted the events that unfolded on the fateful day, explaining that they were unable to reach Barnett, and eventually, the hotel staff discovered him in his truck with an alleged self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities were promptly informed, and an investigation into the incident is underway.

The tragic passing of John Barnett has left his colleagues, friends, and family devastated. It serves as a saddening reminder of the challenges whistleblowers often face when speaking out against powerful entities. As the investigation progresses, the aviation industry and those concerned with workplace safety will be keeping a close eye on the developments surrounding Barnett's case.