Former Boeing Co employee John Barnett, renowned for voicing manufacturing standards issues, was discovered dead Monday outside a South Carolina hotel during a legal struggle with the aviation manufacturer, according to the BBC.
Barnett, 62, retired from Boeing in 2017 after 32 years of service and was presenting evidence in a whistleblower action against the business.
He also worked as a quality manager at the North Charleston plant that produced the 787 Dreamliner, which is mostly used on long-haul flights.
Boeing expressed their sadness at Barnett’s unexpected death in a statement.
On Saturday, the Charleston County coroner verified the whistleblower’s death from a “self-inflicted” wound, and police were investigating.
