The aviation industry was rocked by the tragic death of Boeing whistleblower Joshua Dean, who passed away on Tuesday after contracting a fast-spreading infection. Dean, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, had raised concerns about manufacturing defects in the 737 Max line of planes before being fired in 2023.
Dean’s aunt revealed that the 45-year-old mechanical engineer was in good health and lived a healthy lifestyle prior to falling ill. He was one of the first whistleblowers to speak out about quality issues at Boeing’s key supplier, Spirit AeroSystems. Dean had reported a problem with the aft pressure bulkhead on the Boeing 737, a critical piece of the plane’s infrastructure, but his warnings were ignored.
In a lawsuit against Spirit AeroSystems, Dean alleged that the company’s management made false claims about safety and defect-free manufacturing. He also filed complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Labor, claiming he was fired for raising concerns about the safety of Boeing’s aircraft.
Dean’s untimely death comes just months after another Boeing whistleblower, John Barnett, passed away. Barnett, a former quality manager at Boeing, had raised concerns about faulty oxygen masks on Boeing planes before his death. These tragic losses highlight the challenges faced by whistleblowers in the aviation industry and the importance of speaking out against safety concerns.
