The family of a prominent Boeing whistleblower who committed suicide last year has filed an illegal dying lawsuit against the plane manufacturer.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in South Carolina, says Boeing contributed to “unbearable depression, panic attacks and anxiety.”
“Boeing may not have pulled the trigger, but Boeing's actions were a clear cause,” the case said. His family demanded a ju trial.
Mr. Burnett worked for Boeing for over 30 years, and spent about half of that time as a quality manager. In 2017, he retired early at his company's factory in North Charleston, South Carolina, producing 787 Dreamliner.
Burnett's concerns at Boeing have been prominently featured in the New York Times and other news outlets as an example of the company's manufacturing issues.
He later sued the company and was in Charleston for deposition of the incident when it was discovered he had been killed in a truck in a hotel parking lot last March. The county coroner determined he shot himself. He was 62 years old.
In a statement, Boeing said he “sadly goes through the death of John Burnett and gives his family a heartfelt deed.” The company previously challenged his claims of quality and retaliation.
Boeing has endured two major safety crises over the past decade. The first was followed by two fatal crashes of the 737 largest planes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. These crashes, which later denounced flight control software, led regulators around the world to ground planes for almost two years. Then, earlier last year, the panel was blown away from the 737 Max while flying. The incident was not seriously injured, but updated concerns about the company's plane quality and forced Boeing to make major changes, including a change in chief executive.
If you are thinking about suicide, call or text 988 to reach the lifeline of suicide and crisis; Speakingofsuicide.com/resources A list of additional resources.
