A Second Boeing Whistleblower Dies Of Sudden Illness
His death comes less than two months after another Boeing whistleblower was found dead.
By Sadho Ram — 03 May 2024, 09:49 AM
Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, died earlier this week after a battle with a sudden illness
According to The Seattle Times, he was 45 years old and noted for having a healthy lifestyle.
Dean became a whistleblower in 2023.
Before his death, the Wichita native alleged that his former company's leadership ignored serious manufacturing defects on the 737 MAX, the passenger airliner that experienced two fatal crashes, resulting in the deaths of 346 people.
Dean later filed a complaint with the US Federal Aviation Administration and was subsequently fired by Spirit AeroSystems, which he claimed was in retaliation for his whistleblowing, reported Al Jazeera.
He died after spending two weeks in critical condition
According to Al Jazeera, Dean's mother wrote in a Facebook post last month that her son was "fighting for his life" after contracting pneumonia and suffering a stroke following an MRSA infection.
Doctors were considering amputating both his hands and feet.
Despite treatment, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and he succumbed to the illness.
The Seattle Times, which first reported his death, said Dean had "been in good health".
Spirit AeroSystems said their thoughts were with his family
"This sudden loss is stunning news here at Spirit and for his loved ones. Our thoughts are with Josh's family during this difficult time," Al Jazeera quoted a company spokesperson as saying.
Dean's death comes amidst ongoing investigations into the safety concerns he raised about the 737 MAX.
His death follows that of another Boeing whistleblower, who was found dead from a gunshot wound in March this year.
John "Mitch" Barnett was found dead in Charleston, where Boeing has its 787 manufacturing facility.
The 62-year-old was in the midst of a deposition in a lawsuit against Boeing, alleging retaliation for exposing safety issues with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, according to his lawyers.
Both Dean and Barnett were represented by the same law firm in South Carolina.
While the proximity of their deaths to their whistleblowing activities has raised eyebrows, Brian Knowles, one of Dean's lawyers, said he didn't want to speculate about the circumstances surrounding the two deaths.
"Whistleblowers are needed. They bring to light wrongdoing and corruption in the interests of society. It takes a lot of courage to stand up.
"It's a difficult set of circumstances. Our thoughts now are with their families," Knowles said.
