Whistleblower who accused Boeing supplier of ignoring defects dies
Joshua Dean, a whistleblower who accused a Boeing supplier of disregarding flaws in the 737 MAX production, has died, according to his family and lawyer. He was 45 years old. The former Spirit AeroSystems employee died after contracting a sudden illness, the Seattle Times reported. Dean's aunt, Carol Parsons, informed the publication that Dean went to the hospital about two weeks ago after he had problems breathing. Parsons stated that her nephew was intubated, and his condition continued to deteriorate.
Dean filed complaint with the FAA against Spirit
Spirit AeroSystems came under scrutiny since it was revealed that the aerospace company built the door panel that burst off a 737 MAX 9 midair in January. The incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was the latest in a string of incidents that have raised questions about Boeing safety. Dean had filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration against Spirit, alleging major quality issues at its production site, and had testified in a shareholder lawsuit against the business.
Dean's warning dates back to 2022
Before the incident, Dean claimed to have detected a major production flaw in Spirit-built 737 MAX parts during an examination in 2022. Despite reporting this issue to senior management, his concerns were allegedly dismissed. In April 2023, he was fired for supposedly failing to identify another problem that led to a halt in deliveries for the company.
Dean's legal actions and Spirit Aerosystems' response
At the time, Dean told The Wall Street Journal that Spirit fired him for pointing out incorrectly drilled holes in fuselages. "It is known at Spirit that if you make too much noise and cause too much trouble, you will be moved," Dean told the WSJ. A few months after being fired, Spirit acknowledged a major issue with the manufacturing of the 737 MAXs—the same problem Dean had previously flagged.
Dean's final words
In a January interview with NPR, Dean stated: "I think they were sending out a message to anybody else. If you are too loud, we will silence you." Dean's death follows that of another Boeing whistleblower, John Barnett, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in South Carolina in March. The former Boeing employee had accused the company of "countless" violations of US law before his death.
