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John Barnett, a former Boeing<\/a> employee who publicly raised questions about the aircraft manufacturer\u2019s safety practices and quality control, has been found dead in South Carolina.<\/p>\n Officials in Charleston, South Carolina, say Barnett died from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound on March 9. Police are continuing to investigate the incident.<\/p>\n Barnett, a 32-year veteran at Boeing, first made headlines in 2019 as one of the several whistleblowers who expressed concerns about issues at Boeing\u2019s South Carolina plant, which makes the 787 Dreamliner aircraft. He told the New York Times<\/em><\/a> he had found clusters of metal shavings left near flight control electrical systems, which could have resulted in \u201ccatastrophic\u201d results if those shavings had penetrated the wiring he said.<\/p>\n He retired in 2017, two months after filing a whistleblower complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), citing health reasons and saying he had been subjected to retaliation. The BBC reports Barnett was in Charleston for legal interviews surrounding his legal action against the company, alleging Boeing had damaged his career because of the safety issues he cited.<\/p>\n Boeing has denied those charges and, in a statement, following his death said \u201cWe are saddened by Mr. Barnett\u2019s passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n The Charleston Police Department did not immediately respond to Fortune\u2019s request for comment and the incident report about Barnett\u2019s death, but in a statement to the Post & Courier<\/em>, it said \u201cDetectives are actively investigating this case and are awaiting the formal cause of death, along with any additional findings that might shed further light on the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Barnett. \u2026 We understand the global attention this case has garnered, and it is our priority to ensure that the investigation is not influenced by speculation but is led by facts and evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n Barnett\u2019s death comes as Boeing is under increased scrutiny for its safety practices. In January, the emergency exit door blew off a new Boeing 737 Max jet while in flight. A National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report found four bolts, designed to hold the door in place, were not fitted<\/a> on that plane. And last week, an FAA audit<\/a> found \u201cmultiple instances where the company allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nSubscribe to the CFO Daily newsletter to keep up with the trends, issues, and executives shaping corporate finance. Sign up<\/a> for free.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n