KUALA LUMPUR – A former quality auditor of Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems who turned into a whistleblower has died due to a sudden illness, his family announced on Tuesday.
According to Newsweek, Joshua Dean had raised concerns about Spirit’s handling of production defects in the 737 MAX series, which has faced significant safety issues and crashes in recent times. His accusations brought renewed scrutiny to Boeing’s practices.
This marks the second sudden death of a Boeing whistleblower, following John Barnett’s death less than two months ago, reportedly due to self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Dean’s passing is expected to refocus attention on Boeing, particularly since a 737 Max experienced a mid-air emergency when an exit door blew off in January, further denting the company’s reputation already tarnished by safety concerns.
The deceased, who previously worked as a quality auditor at Spirit, had highlighted lapses in standards and the prevalence of defects at a Boeing facility in Wichita, Kansas, in October 2022. Despite his efforts, no action was taken by management until independent reports surfaced in August 2023.
Allegations in a suit claimed that Dean was terminated by Spirit in retaliation for his disclosures.
He had also filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration, which found substance in his claims but offered no further details.
Dean’s death, at the age of 45, was attributed to pneumonia and complications from an MRSA infection, according to his family. His lawyer described his death as a loss to both the aviation community and the public.
Spirit expressed condolences, acknowledging the shock of Dean’s passing. The circumstances surrounding Barnett’s death, the other whistleblower, remain under investigation.
Barnett had been in the midst of providing testimony against Boeing, alleging retaliation for exposing safety concerns with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. – May 2, 2024