A whistleblower who accused a Boeing supplier of disregarding flaws in the 737 MAX has died, according to his family and lawyer.
Joshua Dean, a former Spirit AeroSystems employee who claimed he was sacked in retribution for reporting inadequate standards at the company’s Wichita, Kansas, manufacturing factory, died on Tuesday of a sudden illness, his aunts and sister said in social media posts.
Dean’s lawyer, Brian Knowles, described his client’s death as a “loss to the aviation community and the flying public.”.
“He had incredible bravery to stand up for what he believed was true and right, and he highlighted quality and safety concerns. Aviation firms should promote and incentivize people who voice these concerns. Otherwise, safety and quality are clearly not the top priorities for these organizations,” Knowles told Al Jazeera.
Spirit AeroSystems stated that the company’s sympathies are with his family.
“This unexpected loss is heartbreaking news for Spirit and his family,” a spokeswoman told Al Jazeera.
Dean’s mother stated on Facebook last month that her son was “fighting for his life” after acquiring pneumonia and having a stroke as a result of an MRSA infection.
Dean was 45 years old, according to the Seattle Times, and had “been in good health and was noted for having a healthy lifestyle.”.
Dean’s death came less than two months after Boeing whistleblower John Barnett was discovered dead from what South Carolina officials claimed was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to his attorneys, Barnett, 62, was in the middle of a deposition in a case against Boeing when he was retaliated against for uncovering safety issues with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Spirit AeroSystems has been under fire since it was revealed that it manufactured the door panel that blew out of a 737 MAX 9 in mid-flight in January.
The near-disaster on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, which is the subject of many investigations, was the latest in a string of accidents that have raised worries about Boeing’s safety standards.
Dean had complained to the Federal Aviation Administration about major quality issues at Spirit’s production site and testified in a shareholder case against the business.
Dean told NPR in February that he believes he was dismissed to send a message to others who might consider coming out.
“If you are too loud, we will silence you,” he was reported as adding.
