NEWSBREAK: The day after a 62-year-old Louisiana man testified in a deposition about quality problems at Boeing’s North Charleston plant, police found him dead Saturday in his car parked outside of a West Ashley hotel. According to the Charleston County Coroner’s Office, John Barnett “died from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
The story is making national headlines with coverage on major networks and newspapers. Barnett, a former Boeing quality control manager, became a whistleblower when he publicly shared concerns about safety issues in the company’s commercial airplanes, which are facing increasing scrutiny after recent mishaps. Boeing, which said in a statement that it was saddened by Barnett’s passing, has also said it was responding to a recent broader safety audit by the FAA and developing “a comprehensive action plan to strengthen safety and quality, and build the confidence of our customers and their passengers.”
On Saturday morning, Charleston police went to Barnett’s hotel for a welfare check after people were unable to contact him. Officers arrived to find a male inside a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to media reports. The Charleston County Coroner’s Office on Tuesday identified the man as Barnett. Charleston police are continuing to investigate.
Barnett’s attorneys, Charleston lawyers Rob Turkewitz and Brian Knowles, said their client was in good spirits as the deposition process was ending. According to a statement reported by WCSC TV:
“John was a brave, honest man of the highest integrity. He cared dearly about his family, his friends, the Boeing company, his Boeing co-workers, and the pilots and people who flew on Boeing aircraft. We have rarely met someone with a more sincere and forthright character. In the course of his job as a quality manager at Boeing South Carolina, John learned of and exposed very serious safety problems with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and was retaliated against and subjected to a hostile work environment, which is the subject of his pending AIR-21 case.”
Barnett worked for Boeing for 32 years and filed a whistleblower complaint alleging safety concerns in 2019, according to reports. He also reportedly claimed Boeing overworked employees at the company’s North Charleston plant, frequently fitted substandard parts on planes and reported faulty oxygen systems that could result in as many as one in four oxygen masks not operating properly.
In other recent news:
CP FOOD: Bookstore bar opens in downtown Charleston. Philosophers & Fools, a bookstore serving wine, beer and snacks, is now open 50 Bogard Street. The 1400-square-foot space will have a small seating area in addition to the bar.
College of Charleston wins CAA tournament. The College of Charleston men’s basketball team has won their second straight Coastal Association Athletic tournament Tuesday evening.
Charleston Water’s settlement with disposable wipes business approved. A federal lawsuit that Charleston Water System filed against seven major U.S. companies over equipment damage caused by disposable bathroom wipes has been formally settled in a March 8 hearing, according to reports. The agreements are expected to benefit all public U.S. water providers.
North Charleston’s first African American mayor leans on lessons of faith, sacrifice. North Charleston’s first new mayor in nearly 30 years says the struggles and sacrifices of his past will help him shape the city’s future as its first African American mayor. Meanwhile, the First Lady of North Charleston spends her time working with causes to help the city thrive.
North Charleston argues plan for Baker Hospital site. The future of land in North Charleston lies in the hands of city council members, and it’s a breath of relief for concerned community members and a strain for the company urging its industrial use.
Charleston airport awarded $23M for growth projects. A $23 million federal grant announced over the weekend is slated to help finance the projects at Charleston International such as overnight parking for aircraft, a new parking garage and a third passenger terminal concourse.
City of Charleston working on more drainage development. The City of Charleston has several drainage improvement projects in the works to alleviate some flooding issues across the downtown peninsula.
Dogs abandoned in rain outside Charleston Animal Society. Two adult dogs and two puppies were left outside of the Charleston Animal Society this weekend, abandoned by a woman who nearly hit the dogs as she left the area, according to reports.
Four years later, Covid-19 has reshaped American lives. Covid-19 was declared a national emergency on March 13, 2020. Even as the threat of severe illness and death has faded, the pandemic’s effects linger.
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