Boeing Whistleblower Who Raised Safety Concerns on 737 MAX Dies at 45

A whistleblower who raised safety concerns about Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft has passed away at the age of 45 after battling a fast-spreading infection.

Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Spirit AeroSystems, alleged that he was terminated for highlighting lax safety standards at the company’s manufacturing plant in Wichita, Kansas. His family and lawyer have confirmed his death on Tuesday.

According to his lawyer, Brian Knowles, Dean’s death is a significant loss to the aviation community.

Luckily, no one died when a door panel blew off a Boeing aeroplane mid-flight (Picture: Reuters)

Knowles emphasized Dean’s courage in standing up for safety and quality issues, calling aviation companies to encourage and reward employees who raise such concerns.

Dean’s concerns about safety failings at Spirit AeroSystems gained attention amid scrutiny over potential defects in Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft.

Notably, a door panel manufactured by Spirit was involved in a near-disaster on an Alaska Airlines flight earlier this year, prompting further scrutiny of safety protocols.

In his complaint filed with the Federal Aviation Administration, Dean alleged serious quality issues at Spirit’s production facility, claiming that his warnings about a manufacturing defect were disregarded.

He later testified in a shareholder lawsuit against the company, believing that his termination in April 2023 was intended to silence other potential whistleblowers.

Dean’s passing marks the second death of a Boeing whistleblower this year. John Barnett, another whistleblower represented by Brian Knowles, died in March under tragic circumstances.

However, while Barnett’s death was ruled as “self-inflicted,” Dean’s appears to be due to natural causes.

Dean’s family revealed that he had been battling pneumonia and suffered a stroke after contracting an MRSA infection, highlighting the sudden and devastating nature of his illness.

Dean, who was previously healthy and fit, endured a challenging health journey before his passing, leaving his loved ones heartbroken by the loss.

Sola Adeniji

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