Second Boeing whistleblower dies from 'sudden and fast-spreading infection': Report

The planemaker has been grappling with a full-blown safety crisis that has undermined its reputation following a January 5 mid-air panel blowout on a 737 MAX plane.

Former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems Joshua Dean died on Tuesday aged 45, according to a report by The Seattle Times. Dean was one of the first whistleblowers to flag the ignorance of the manufacturing defects in the 737 Max by the Spirit leadership, the report said.

Dean died after battling a “sudden and fast-spreading infection”, the report added. He lived in Wichita, Kansas, where the Boeing supplier is based. The report also said that Dean was in good health and was known for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The death was confirmed by Dean’s aunt Carol Parsons, who said he was in a critical condition for the past two weeks. According to the report, Dean fell ill over two weeks ago and complained of breathing difficulties. He was airlifted to a hospital in Oklahoma City, where he underwent several medical procedures. Despite the interventions, his conditions did not improve.

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Dean, in 2022, highlighted serious manufacturing defects in the 737 MAX airplanes. He had raised the issue with the management of Spirit, but he claimed that his concerns were ignored. He had later filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration for “serious misconduct” and had deposed in a lawsuit filed by the shareholders of Spirit.

In April 2023, he was fired and later Dean filed a complaint with the labour department for his termination, the report said.

According to the report, Dean was represented by the same firm that also represented the other Boeing whistleblower John ‘Mitch’ Barnett. He was found dead in March in an apparent case of suicide. The investigation in the death of Barnett, who was in the midst of depositions against Boeing, is still ongoing, the report added.

The planemaker has been grappling with a full-blown safety crisis that has undermined its reputation following a January 5 mid-air panel blowout on a 737 MAX plane. It has undergone a management shakeup, US regulators have put curbs on its production, and deliveries fell by half in March.

The company lost $355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, with the CEO saying the company is in a tough moment, and its focus is on fixing its manufacturing issues, not the financial results.

With inputs from Reuters