A bombshell lawsuit has been filed against aircraft giant Boeing in the tragic case of whistleblower John Barnett’s suicide. The family claims Boeing’s relentless harassment campaign against their loved one directly led to his death after he dared to expose safety concerns.
At a glance:
• John “Mitch” Barnett, a 62-year-old Boeing quality manager who worked for the company for 32 years, was found dead by suicide in March 2024
• Barnett’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Boeing in U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
• The lawsuit claims Boeing’s retaliation and harassment caused Barnett’s PTSD and subsequent suicide
• Barnett had raised safety concerns about Boeing’s manufacturing processes, particularly at the Charleston plant
• The legal action coincides with increased scrutiny of Boeing following two fatal 737 MAX crashes and a recent 737 MAX 9 incident
Family Seeks Justice For Boeing Whistleblower’s Death
The family of John “Mitch” Barnett, a former Boeing quality manager who spent 32 years with the company, has launched a wrongful death lawsuit against the aviation giant. Their complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, directly links Barnett’s March 2024 suicide to what they allege was a systematic campaign of harassment and intimidation by Boeing.
Barnett became a prominent whistleblower after raising serious concerns about quality control issues in Boeing’s manufacturing processes, particularly regarding the 787 Dreamliner program. His allegations gained attention following two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.
According to legal documents, Barnett was diagnosed with PTSD in 2017 as a direct result of the hostile work environment he encountered after raising safety issues. The lawsuit states that “Barnett reported feelings of sadness, hopelessness, sleep disturbances with nightmares, and an overwhelming sense that something bad was going to happen. He feared further retaliation for reporting his complaints to OSHA and the FAA.”
Pattern Of Retaliation Alleged Against Safety Advocate
The lawsuit paints a disturbing picture of corporate retaliation, claiming Boeing conducted a systematic campaign to “discourage, discredit, and humiliate” Barnett after he reported safety complaints. According to court documents, his concerns about manufacturing problems at Boeing’s Charleston plant were repeatedly ignored by management.
Boeing allegedly punished Barnett by giving him poor job reviews, assigning undesirable shifts, and publicly blaming him for production delays. The pressure eventually forced him to take early retirement in March 2017, but his battle with the company continued as he pursued legal action under the AIR21 Whistleblower Protection Program.
The family’s attorneys delivered a damning assessment of Boeing’s conduct, stating: “Boeing had threatened to break John, and break him it did.” The lawsuit argues that Boeing’s actions created an “elevated risk of suicide” that was “absolutely foreseeable” given Barnett’s documented PTSD and deteriorating mental health.
Boeing Denies Allegations As Safety Crisis Deepens
Boeing responded to the lawsuit with a brief statement: “We are saddened by John Barnett’s death and extend our condolences to his family.” A company spokesperson defended Boeing’s safety practices, claiming that “Safety issues are immediately investigated, and changes are made wherever necessary.”
However, these assurances come at a time when Boeing faces unprecedented scrutiny from regulators and the public. The Federal Aviation Administration began investigating Boeing’s quality control processes after a door plug blew out on a 737 MAX 9 aircraft during an Alaska Airlines flight in February 2024, just weeks before Barnett’s death.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, funeral and burial expenses, and legal costs. More significantly, it threatens to expose further details about Boeing’s internal culture at a time when the company is desperately trying to restore public confidence in its aircraft and manufacturing processes.
