Boeing 737 Max whistleblower Joshua Dean, 45, passes away unexpectedly due to illness – National

A second whistleblower who raised concerns about the safety of Boeing aircraft has tragically passed away. Joshua Dean, 45, a former quality auditor for Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kan., worked on the Boeing 737 Max program and filed a formal complaint to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2023 over improper manufacturing practices he witnessed. He was fired months before his death, allegedly in retaliation for bringing up safety concerns with Spirit management.

Dean’s death comes just two months after another Boeing whistleblower, John Barrett, was found dead of an apparent suicide a day after testifying against the planemaker. Dean passed away in the hospital after his health deteriorated suddenly. He had been in critical condition for two weeks, experiencing difficulty breathing, testing positive for influenza B and an MRSA staph infection, and later developing pneumonia.

As Dean’s condition worsened, he was put on dialysis and had to be transferred to a hospital in Oklahoma City for treatment. Doctors discovered he had experienced a stroke, and his family described his lungs as “completely whited out.” Despite efforts to save him, Dean’s health continued to decline, and doctors even considered amputating his hands and feet.

Dean’s family shared that he was in heaven with his younger brother who had previously passed away. His aunt described the ordeal as “brutal” and “heartbreaking.” Spirit AeroSystems spokesperson Joe Buccino expressed condolences to Dean’s family, calling the loss “stunning news.” Dean’s lawyer emphasized the importance of whistleblowers in uncovering wrongdoing and corruption, highlighting the courage it takes to speak out. The circumstances surrounding both whistleblowers’ deaths remain under investigation, with no evidence connecting them at this time.