In a shocking turn of events, Boeing whistleblower John Barnett's untimely demise has ignited speculation and raised doubts over the circumstances of his death. The 62-year-old was found dead in Charleston, South Carolina, on March 9, the same day he was scheduled to conclude his closed-door testimony in a lawsuit against his former employer.

Initial reports from authorities claimed that Barnett died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. However, his lawyers, family, and friends have voiced skepticism, asserting that he did not take his own life. A family friend, known only as Jennifer, disclosed that Barnett had expressed concerns about his safety after publicly speaking out about his Boeing-related safety concerns following his retirement in 2017.

Jennifer revealed that Barnett had confided in her, stating, "If anything happens, it's not suicide." She firmly believes that someone wanted to silence him and alleged that his death was made to appear as suicide to cover up foul play. Boeing has yet to respond to the friend's claims.

Barnett's attorneys also expressed doubt that he died by suicide, citing the fact that he was in high spirits and looking forward to putting the whistleblower retaliation case behind him. The attorneys believe Barnett's deposition could have been a driving force behind someone wanting to silence him.

Barnett, a former quality control engineer with Boeing for over three decades, had filed a whistleblower complaint with the government, alleging serious safety flaws in the company's operations. In recent years, he had given numerous media interviews, accusing Boeing of rushing the production of its 787 Dreamliner jets and compromising safety protocols. According to fellow Boeing workers, Barnett had made powerful enemies before his death.

The circumstances surrounding Barnett's death remain under investigation. His body was discovered in his pickup truck in a Charleston hotel parking lot, with a pistol still in his possession. His attorneys had requested a welfare check at the hotel when they were unable to reach him.

Boeing released a brief statement following Barnett's death, expressing their condolences to his family and friends. As the investigation continues, questions persist regarding the safety concerns raised by the whistleblower and the events leading to his tragic demise.