Dean died of a sudden and violent illness, two months after another Boeing whistleblower, John Barnett, apparently committed suicide.
Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor for Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, died on Tuesday at the age of 45, according to reports. Dean’s death, ascribed to a “sudden and fast-spreading infection,” comes two months after another Boeing whistleblower, John Barnett, apparently committed suicide.
Dean became ill a little over two weeks ago with respiratory issues. Despite intense medical intervention, including an ECMO machine, Dean fought for a few days before passing.
Dean was among the first to express alarm about Spirit leadership potentially ignoring serious manufacturing issues in Boeing’s 737 MAX jets. He documented his findings, which included incorrectly drilled holes in the aft pressure bulkhead, a critical component for controlling cabin pressure.
Spirit dismissed Dean in April 2023, which he saw as revenge for publicizing the plane’s problems.
The timing of Dean’s death is disturbingly similar to that of Barnett, who committed suicide in March while mired in a lawsuit alleging retribution for uncovering safety problems with the Dreamliner.
Last month, former Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour gave damaging evidence to senators on Capitol Hill, describing a culture within Boeing that prioritizes pushing faulty components over safety hazards. Salehpour, who had 17 years of experience with Boeing, became a whistleblower after experiencing penalties for voicing safety concerns about the popular 787 Dreamliner and 777 airplanes.
While acknowledging flaws, Boeing pledged to continue working to improve. Boeing rejected Salehpour’s assertions about the Dreamliner’s safety, citing thorough testing that allegedly revealed no evidence of weariness.
