Below is a quote from S2 Underground’s “The Wire on 2330Z March 11, 2024”

This afternoon a former Boeing quality manager was found dead outside a Charleston hotel where he was staying while testifying against Boeing. Authorities state that John Barnett died of a self-inflicted wound while undergoing depositions related to a whistleblower lawsuit regarding Boeing allegedly using substandard parts in the construction of aircraft. His body was found in his vehicle in the parking lot of his hotel when he did not show up for the next round of depositions the next day.

As all eyes are on Boeing after many high-profile incidents and accidents, the exceptionally suspicious death of a former quality assurance manager is almost certain to cause increased scrutiny of Boeing’s activities, in addition to highlighting the seriousness of the implications this may have throughout the aviation industry. Boeing, though suffering the bad press of several accidents in short succession, could have turned the situation around in due time. However, the very public death of a key witness during a critical deposition is not likely to result in the general public granting the benefit of the doubt to this company anytime soon.