Boeing whistleblower John Barnett found dead by suicide

Former Boeing employee and whistleblower John Barnett has been found dead in South Carolina, US.

Barnett died from a self-inflicted wound on March 9, but authorities are still investigating the death.

Known for being vocal about the company’s production standards, Barnett had worked for Boeing for 32 years, until his retirement in 2017.

The BBC reports that “in the days before his death, he had been giving evidence in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company.”

Boeing spoke to media outlets, saying it was saddened to hear of Barnett’s passing, but an official statement has yet to be released.