Second Boeing whistleblower passes away | WORLD

The aviation community is mourning the loss of whistleblower Joshua Dean, who recently passed away after raising concerns about potential safety issues on Boeing aircraft. Dean, who used to work for Spirit AeroSystems, had been vocal about the integrity of certain aircraft parts being shipped to Boeing before his employment was terminated in April 2023.

His lawyer, Brian Knowles, described Dean as a courageous individual who stood up for what he believed was right. The Federal Aviation Administration has acknowledged instances where Boeing failed to meet manufacturing quality control requirements, further highlighting the importance of whistleblowers like Dean in ensuring the safety of aircraft.

Tragically, Dean’s death comes just months after another Boeing whistleblower, John Barnett, passed away in an apparent suicide. Barnett had raised concerns about safety risks related to oxygen masks on Boeing’s 787 aircraft in 2019. His death, like Dean’s, has left the aviation industry reeling.

Boeing, which has faced several incidents involving its aircraft in recent months, including a panel blowing off a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet mid-flight, has yet to comment on Dean’s passing. The company’s reputation for safe aircraft is under scrutiny, as highlighted in a recent report on The World and Everything in It podcast.

As the investigations into both Dean and Barnett’s deaths continue, the aviation community is left to reflect on the courage and dedication of whistleblowers who strive to uphold safety standards in the industry.