In a tragic turn of events, Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at a major Boeing supplier, has passed away. Dean, who had raised concerns about improperly drilled holes in the fuselage of 737 Max jets, died on Tuesday morning at the age of 45. His family announced his untimely demise on social media, revealing that he had fallen critically ill after being diagnosed with a MRSA bacterial infection.

Dean's condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to his transfer from a hospital in Wichita, Kansas, to another facility in Oklahoma City. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of medical teams, they were unable to save his life, as reported by the Seattle Times.

Dean had been one of the first individuals to flag potentially dangerous defects in 737 Max jets at Spirit AeroSystems, a significant Boeing supplier. Investigations are currently underway to understand the root cause of the door panel malfunction that occurred on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 in January. This incident has brought increased scrutiny to Spirit and Boeing's working relationship.

Spirit spokesman Joe Buccino expressed condolences to Dean's family, calling the news of his passing "stunning" and highlighting the loss felt not only by his loved ones but also within the aviation community.

Regrettably, Dean's death marks the second loss of a Boeing-related whistleblower in the past three months. In March, John Barnett died in South Carolina during his testimony in a retaliation lawsuit against Boeing. Both Dean and Barnett were represented by attorney Brian Knowles, who acknowledged the importance of their courageous acts in raising quality and safety concerns within the aviation industry.

Dean came from a lineage of aviation professionals and had worked in the same Wichita factory as his father and grandfather before him. After obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering, he joined Spirit in 2019, but was laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic and later rehired as a quality auditor.

During his tenure, Dean grew increasingly frustrated with what he perceived as a company culture that did not prioritize accurately counting defects. He revealed in interviews that employees were pressured not to report defects to expedite the production process. Dean claimed that his termination in April 2023 was in retaliation for bringing attention to improperly drilled holes in fuselages.

The shareholder lawsuit against Spirit alleges that the company concealed excessive defects at their Kansas factory, including the mis-drilled holes that Dean had flagged months before his dismissal. These allegations have sparked a legal battle between Spirit and the shareholders.

Boeing, currently in talks to acquire Spirit, has acknowledged the need to reassess their outsourcing practices and address issues within the manufacturing chain. CEO Dave Calhoun admitted that they may have gone too far and expressed a commitment to improving manufacturing quality.

Dean's concerns regarding the impact of the pandemic on the experienced workforce at Spirit echo the sentiments of many in the industry. He believed that a change in culture was necessary to prevent retaliation and intimidation towards employees who spoke up.

While Dean's passing is mourned, there is hope for a better future. He saw the opportunity for Spirit's CEO, Patrick Shanahan, to bring about a positive shift in the company's culture by eliminating retaliation and ensuring a safe environment for employees to raise concerns.

As investigations continue and the aviation industry navigates the challenges of improving safety and quality control, the legacy of whistleblowers like Joshua Dean serves as a reminder of the importance of speaking up for the well-being of the flying public.