Family of dead Boeing whistleblower say his absence will be ‘deeply felt’

Get Daily US News Headlines From Our Reporters

Latest US Headlines: Your Briefing

The family members of the second person who spoke up about issues with Boeing's products and later passed away recently are honoring him by sharing kind words about him. They shared that his final weeks were exceedingly difficult.

Joshua Dean, who was 45 years old, passed away after a quick-spreading infection emerged about a month following the death of another informant.

Before, Mr Dean worked as a quality auditor for Spirit AeroSystems, a supplier of Boeing. However, he made his accusations known to the public, stating that the leaders at Spirit AeroSystems deliberately overlooked faults in the production of Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft.

In a sorrowful Facebook post, Taylor Rae Roberts conveyed the news that her attractive sibling Joshua had passed away that morning and had joined their younger brother.

"I am unsure about the extent of endurance my family and I possess. Personally, I am uncertain about my own ability to cope with the situation."

According to his mother and stepfather who were interviewed by NPR, Mr Dean was someone who was extremely conscious about his health and fitness.

"He was absolutely incredible," commented Winn Weir, Mr. Dean's stepdad. "He possessed the remarkable ability to recite, verbatim, something he had read several days prior."

According to an article in The Seattle Times, Mr. Dean's aunt, Carol Parsons, stated that he was hospitalized for two weeks due to pneumonia and MRSA. His condition was severe during this time.

Parsons shared that the experience was very tough for him. He recounted how the medical professionals were contemplating the possibility of amputating his limbs, which he found very upsetting and disheartening.

On Facebook, Ms Parsons shared that the lack of presence of Mr Dean will be greatly missed.

Jenny Dean, who is also the aunt, posted a commemorative post on her Facebook page.

"Today, my beloved nephew Joshua has passed away," she shared. "I am grateful for the support and kind words that have been extended through your prayers."

Dean, a resident of Wichita, is the second person this year who has died after revealing safety concerns in the aviation manufacturing industry. In March, John Barnett, a whistleblower for Boeing, was found deceased in his truck at a hotel parking lot in South Carolina.

The passing of the person who revealed internal inconsistencies is just one of the numerous negative events that have occurred within the troubled company of Boeing within the last year. In the first month of 2020, a specific model of their planes, the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9, experienced an incident involving the displacement of its door plug while traveling mid-air. As a result, all 171 jets of this same type were temporarily suspended from flying by the FAA, which then commissioned an inquiry into the matter.

In a short time after that, a minimum of four individuals stepped forward - involving the two whistleblowers who are no longer alive - to assert that taking shortcuts during the production of the planes was leading to hazards in safety.

After the turmoil that ensued, Dave Calhoun, the CEO of Boeing, revealed that he would be resigning by the end of this year. For the initial three months of 2024, Boeing experienced a net loss amounting to $355 million.

Joshua Dean spoke out about concerns regarding the safety of airplanes. He lodged a complaint to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding what he described as "severe and inappropriate behavior by top quality management figures in charge of producing 737s" at Spirit.

Back in January, Dean shared with the Wall Street Journal that he got dismissed from his job at Spirit Aerosystems for calling attention to incorrect drilling of holes in the jet fuselages. This happened in April 2023, and Dean felt that his firing was an act of revenge.

However, the corporation honored him after he passed away.

Joe Buccino, the representative of Spirit, expressed his condolences to the family of Josh Dean. The news of his unexpected passing has left the community and his dear ones in shock.

A representative for Mr. Dean, named Brian Knowles, stated to The Seattle Times that he would refrain from discussing the details of his client's demise or the passing of Mr. Barnett.

Mr. Knowles expressed that society requires individuals who expose misconduct and deceit. Speaking to the media, he acknowledged that it demands immense bravery to stand against such issues.

The situation is challenging. We currently have John's family and Josh's family in our thoughts.