In a tragic turn of events, the family of the deceased Boeing whistleblower, John Barnett, is putting some of the blame on the aerospace giant as police investigate his apparent suicide. Barnett was found dead in his truck earlier this month after he had missed a deposition in connection with his lawsuit against the jet manufacturer.

Barnett had filed a lawsuit against Boeing, alleging retaliation, harassment, and surveillance by the company. He had failed to appear for his second day of depositions, prompting concerns from his lawyers. Unfortunately, hotel workers discovered his lifeless body in the parking lot.

Vicky Stokes, Barnett's mother, expressed her anguish and frustration, stating, "If this hadn't gone on so long, I'd still have my son, my sons would have their brother, and we wouldn't be sitting here." His brother, Rodney Barnett, highlighted how John wasn't one to back down and continued to voice his concerns about the allegedly hostile work environment, even during meetings.

The preliminary assessment by the coroner indicating an apparent suicide worries both Barnett's lawyers and family members due to his persistent nature. Robert Turkewitz, one of Barnett's attorneys, initially believed Boeing had no involvement in his client's death. However, he also remarked that the situation simply did not make sense, raising questions about why Barnett would take his own life. Police are currently conducting an investigation, eagerly awaiting the release of the official report.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, a friend of Barnett's revealed in an interview with local media that he had stated, "If anything happens to me, it's not suicide." These words from Barnett raise doubts about the circumstances surrounding his untimely demise.

Outside of Barnett's retaliation lawsuit, Boeing has been grappling with safety concerns over its 737 Max airplanes recently. The company's CEO, Dave Calhoun, has announced his resignation at the year's end, and other executives, including the head of the 737 Max program, are also leaving amid the fallout.

Barnett's long-standing career with Boeing spanned over three decades before he retired in 2017 as a quality-control engineer. In 2019, he publicly expressed concerns about the rush to get the 787 Dreamliner jets off the production line, compromising safety. He alleged that the emergency oxygen systems on these planes had a failure rate of 25%, posing a serious risk to passengers.

According to his lawyers, Barnett had raised this issue with management while working at Boeing's North Charleston plant in 2010 but claimed no action was taken. Instead, the company allegedly retaliated against him, fostering a hostile work environment that culminated in the lawsuit for which he was being deposed.

The Federal Aviation Administration conducted a review of Boeing in 2017, partially substantiating some of Barnett's allegations and issuing orders for the company to address the concerns.

In response to Barnett's passing, Boeing expressed its condolences, stating, "We are saddened by Mr. Barnett's passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends."

As the investigation into John Barnett's apparent suicide continues, the focus remains on determining the circumstances surrounding his tragic death and addressing the serious allegations he made against Boeing.