The death of John Barnett, a former Boeing quality manager and whistleblower, has been ruled a suicide by the Charleston Police Department. Barnett was found dead in his pickup truck in March 2024 with a gunshot wound to his head, shortly before he was scheduled to give a formal deposition in a legal case against the aircraft manufacturer.
Barnett had worked for Boeing for over 30 years before taking early retirement in 2017, following years of raising concerns about quality and safety issues at a North Charleston, South Carolina, manufacturing plant. He alleged that new employees lacked adequate training and that critical safety measures, such as oxygen masks, were not functioning properly on aircraft. His complaints led to retaliation from the company, according to reports.
Following the fatal crashes of two Boeing 737 Max jets in 2018 and 2019, Barnett's concerns gained wider attention. He joined other whistleblowers in legal action against Boeing and was featured in the 2022 Netflix documentary "Downfall: The Case Against Boeing."
The documentary "Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing," which began streaming on Netflix, was partly motivated by Barnett's death, according to director Rory Kennedy. Kennedy stated that Barnett had committed much of his life to alerting the public about issues within the company.
Investigation and Findings
An investigation by the Charleston Police Department, requested by Barnett's family and attorneys, concluded in May 2024 that Barnett died by suicide. Documents released as part of the investigation included a note found in Barnett's notebook that read, "I can’t do this any longer. Enough. F–k Boeing. Family and friends, I love you." and "I pray the motherf–kers that destroyed my life pay. I pray Boeing pays. Bury me face-down so Boeing and their lying-ass leaders can kiss my ass."
Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal informed Barnett's mother and brother that no fingerprints other than Barnett's were found in his vehicle. Surveillance video reportedly showed Barnett as the only person entering or exiting his truck between the time he arrived at the parking lot and when he was discovered the next morning. Ballistics confirmed the weapon found in Barnett's hand was his own registered firearm, and the bullet matched.
Despite the official ruling, Barnett's attorney, Robert Turkewitz, argued in the documentary that Boeing bears responsibility for his death, stating, "Boeing may not have pulled the trigger, but Boeing was responsible for John’s death." Barnett's family and attorneys filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Boeing last year, which remains ongoing.
Barnett's mother has expressed that "We still have a lot of unanswered questions" regarding his death, though the documentary does not present evidence to contradict the suicide finding.