Second Boeing whistleblower claiming safety issues were ignored dies suddenly


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A Boeing whistleblower has died suddenly after developing a severe infection, according to The Seattle Times. Josh Dean, 45, was a former quality auditor for Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems since 2019.

Dean’s aunt, Carol Parsons, spoke with The Seattle Times and said Dean was living a healthy lifestyle before he died on the morning of Tuesday, April 30. He had suddenly fallen ill two weeks ago when he went to the hospital for having trouble breathing. Parsons said his condition rapidly deteriorated as he was intubated, developed pneumonia, MRSA — a bacterial staph infection — and suffered a stroke.

In October 2022, Dean reported finding a serious manufacturing defect in how the Boeing 737 MAX jets were constructed and said mechanics improperly drilled holes in the aft pressure bulkhead. Dean said he raised the alarm to management in 2022 but claimed nothing was done about the issue.

Dean was fired in April 2023 after missing a different manufacturing flaw during the same audit which caused a delivery pause at Boeing’s Renton plant.

In August 2023, Spirit announced it discovered improperly drilled holes in Boeing’s MAX aft pressure bulkhead. Dean said at the time he believed those were the same holes he flagged to his superiors.

Dean filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), claiming he was fired because Spirit used him as a scapegoat and covered up the discovery of the improperly drilled holes.

The FAA found Dean’s complaint to be credible.

Dean also filed an aviation whistleblower complaint with the Department of Labor, alleging wrongful termination and gross misconduct by senior-level management at Spirit AeroSystems.

Additionally, Dean provided a deposition against Spirit in a shareholders lawsuit. The case was still pending at the time of his death.

Dean’s death comes less than two months after Boeing whistleblower John Barnett was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a hotel parking lot in Charleston, South Carolina.

Prior to his death, Barnett had reported compromised safety standard at Boeing and was in the middle of testifying against the plane manufacturer in a whistleblower lawsuit.

“Our thoughts are with Josh Dean’s family,” A spokesperson for Spirit AeroSystems said in a statement. “This sudden loss is stunning news here and for his loved ones.”

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Full story

A Boeing whistleblower has died suddenly after developing a severe infection, according to The Seattle Times. Josh Dean, 45, was a former quality auditor for Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems since 2019.

Dean’s aunt, Carol Parsons, spoke with The Seattle Times and said Dean was living a healthy lifestyle before he died on the morning of Tuesday, April 30. He had suddenly fallen ill two weeks ago when he went to the hospital for having trouble breathing. Parsons said his condition rapidly deteriorated as he was intubated, developed pneumonia, MRSA — a bacterial staph infection — and suffered a stroke.

In October 2022, Dean reported finding a serious manufacturing defect in how the Boeing 737 MAX jets were constructed and said mechanics improperly drilled holes in the aft pressure bulkhead. Dean said he raised the alarm to management in 2022 but claimed nothing was done about the issue.

Dean was fired in April 2023 after missing a different manufacturing flaw during the same audit which caused a delivery pause at Boeing’s Renton plant.

In August 2023, Spirit announced it discovered improperly drilled holes in Boeing’s MAX aft pressure bulkhead. Dean said at the time he believed those were the same holes he flagged to his superiors.

Dean filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), claiming he was fired because Spirit used him as a scapegoat and covered up the discovery of the improperly drilled holes.

The FAA found Dean’s complaint to be credible.

Dean also filed an aviation whistleblower complaint with the Department of Labor, alleging wrongful termination and gross misconduct by senior-level management at Spirit AeroSystems.

Additionally, Dean provided a deposition against Spirit in a shareholders lawsuit. The case was still pending at the time of his death.

Dean’s death comes less than two months after Boeing whistleblower John Barnett was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a hotel parking lot in Charleston, South Carolina.

Prior to his death, Barnett had reported compromised safety standard at Boeing and was in the middle of testifying against the plane manufacturer in a whistleblower lawsuit.

“Our thoughts are with Josh Dean’s family,” A spokesperson for Spirit AeroSystems said in a statement. “This sudden loss is stunning news here and for his loved ones.”

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Media landscape

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75 total sources

Key points from the Left

No summary available because of a lack of coverage.

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Key points from the Right

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