In a tragic turn of events, Joshua Dean, a former aviation worker, has passed away following a brief illness. Dean had recently come forward with safety concerns and alleged retaliation by his employer. His untimely death comes just weeks after another Boeing whistleblower's demise. Attorneys representing both men disclosed the news on Thursday.

Dean, 45, from Wichita, Kansas, died on Tuesday after being diagnosed with multiple illnesses, including the flu, pneumonia, and MRSA. Surprised by his sudden deterioration, his family requested an autopsy to determine the cause of death. "He was a healthy individual who ate well and exercised," said attorney Robert Turkewitz. "So it just seems odd that he went so fast."

For the past two weeks, Dean had been battling his illness, struggling to breathe and eventually requiring the use of a ventilator. Dean's attorneys, Brian Knowles and Robert Turkewitz, expressed their condolences to his family, calling his passing a loss to the aviation community and the flying public. They commended Dean for his courage in standing up for what he believed to be true and right, highlighting his efforts in raising quality and safety concerns.

Both Turkewitz and Knowles had also represented another Boeing whistleblower, John Barnett, who tragically took his own life on March 9. Barnett, a 62-year-old Louisiana man, had reported alleged safety failings with the 787 Dreamliner, where he had worked for over three decades.

Dean, who previously worked as a quality auditor for Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, had detailed allegations of unaddressed manufacturing defects on the 737 MAX planes. Although he was not a plaintiff in the case, Dean was mentioned in a 2023 shareholder lawsuit against Spirit. The lawsuit claimed that Spirit "concealed the defect" involving "mis-drilled holes" in the rear bulkhead of the MAX planes, which could compromise the aircraft's structural integrity.

In an interview earlier this year, Dean voiced his concerns about facing repercussions for raising safety issues within the company. "If you make too much trouble, you will get the Josh treatment. You will get what happened to me," he shared.

Dean was terminated from his position on April 26, 2023, which he believed was an act of retaliation. "I think they were sending out a message to anybody else," Dean said. "If you are too loud, we will silence you."

While Spirit AeroSystems stated that it is mourning Dean's passing, the company declined to comment on his accusations. Previously, Spirit had asserted its disagreement with the allegations in the shareholder lawsuit and expressed its intention to fight the case in court.

Dean's attorney, Turkewitz, suggested that the stress from blowing the whistle and subsequent termination may have contributed to his deteriorating health. "We were told that stress can cause the immune system to weaken and makes you more susceptible to pneumonia, the flu, and MRSA. He'd been under a lot of stress for blowing the whistle," Turkewitz stated. "He'd been trying to get the word out and no one would listen."

As investigations continue into both the circumstances surrounding Dean's passing and the safety allegations he raised, the aviation industry mourns the loss of another whistleblower fighting for transparency and accountability.