A former Boeing mechanical engineer and quality inspector who filed complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration over defects in aircraft manufacturing died on May 1 after developing a sudden and fast-moving infection.
Joshua Dean is now the second whistleblower to have died under mysterious circumstances, which is fueling theories that Boeing is trying to cover up known defects in its aircraft.
Dean was fired from Spirit AeroSystems in April 2023 after he reported to the FAA that the company had ignored serious safety issues in the manufacture of Boeing 737 aircraft fuselages, according to a report by The Seattle Times. Dean had given a deposition in a shareholder lawsuit against Spirit after filing a complaint with the FAA.
According to the Times, Dean had developed an illness two weeks prior to his death that rapidly caused organ failure and his untimely death at the age of 46. A CT scan revealed that Dean suffered a stroke that ultimately took his life. Dean is said to have lived a “healthy lifestyle.” He was 45.
In March, another whistleblower, John Barnett, was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound to the head outside a hotel he was staying at while giving a deposition on quality control issues at Boeing, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Dean and Barnett were both represented by the same law firm, Knowles Law Firm, only further fueling questions.
Dozens of people on X are posting information about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two whistleblowers and indicating there is a potential underlying conspiracy. Posts such as “Whistles are Deadly at Boeing” by Brad Staggs of The Daily Mojo show significant skepticism about the two deaths being coincidental amid reports of quality control problems by the aircraft manufacturer.
Boeing has dealt with controversy for several years, beginning with the fatal crashes of two aircraft in 2018 and 2019, as reported by the Associated Press. Those crashes were caused by a faulty flight control system that caused the aircraft to uncontrollably nose dive into the ground. In January 2024, a door plug blew off a plane while in flight. Investigators believe the bolts that retain the plug had not been installed.
Other quality issues include improperly drilled holes in the bulkhead — which was reported to the FAA by Dean — improperly fastened fuselage parts, improperly torqued bolts, and, in at least one instance, improper assembly of a flight control surface that caused a near-miss situation at a Newark, New Jersey, airport earlier this year, per reports by AP and DX.
The issues have led to state and federal investigations and an enhanced safety inspection protocol by several federal agencies, which has caused delays in aircraft delivery. The delays have forced some airlines to make changes to their flights, including the suspension of three American Airlines long-haul routes out of DFW, as reported by WFAA. The Fort Worth-based airline is cutting a total of 12 routes nationally in response to delayed delivery of new Boeing aircraft.
An investigation by DX found that the National Transportation Safety Board opened more investigations into Boeing incidents in 2023 than it had in over two decades.
