The family of a former Boeing employee has reached a settlement in their wrongful death lawsuit against the aerospace giant. The lawsuit involved John Barnett, 62, who worked as a quality control manager at Boeing for over three decades. Barnett raised alarms about unsafe production practices at the company’s manufacturing facilities, actions his family claims led directly to his death.

Barnett’s wrongful death lawsuit was filed in late March in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, the city where he oversaw safety and quality control at Boeing. His body was discovered in a Charleston Holiday Inn parking lot in 2024.

Officials determined Barnett’s death was a suicide caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. While initial speculation surrounded his untimely death, his family clarified in their lawsuit that his final years at Boeing, compounded by retaliation following his whistleblower complaint, led to severe mental health issues. The complaint cited "PTSD, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, all caused by Boeing’s wrongful conduct," which ultimately contributed to his suicide.

When Barnett’s body was found, authorities also recovered several handwritten notes. One note expressed intense frustration toward the company: "I pray the motherfuckers that destroyed my life pay!!! I pray Boeing pays!!! Bury me face down so Boeing and their lying ass leaders can kiss my ass."

In his final years at Boeing, Barnett noticed critical issues during his inspections of aircraft production and maintenance processes, including defective components being approved for use on commercial aircraft. In 2017, he filed a whistleblower complaint highlighting these safety concerns, just one year before two tragic Boeing 737 Max crashes. The first crash involved Lion Air Flight 610 in October 2018, and the second involved Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019, collectively resulting in 346 fatalities.

Barnett’s complaint took nearly seven years to navigate the legal system. He initially filed with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other regulatory agencies under the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21) with the Department of Labor. At the time, Barnett publicly stated that he believed it was his "duty to bring these issues to light for the safety of the flying public," detailing instances of inadequate quality control, faulty parts, and substandard manufacturing processes allowed to persist despite clear safety risks.

His lawsuit gained significant national attention, especially since Barnett claimed retaliation from Boeing due to his whistleblower actions, including being compelled to retire early in late 2017.

Details of the settlement agreement between Boeing and Barnett’s family remain undisclosed. However, Boeing spokesperson Libba Holland issued a statement addressing the settlement, saying, "We are saddened by John Barnett’s death and extend our condolences to his family. Boeing took actions several years ago to review and address the issues that Mr. Barnett raised."