Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Spirit AeroSystems, a major supplier to Boeing, passed away on Tuesday after a sudden and severe infection. Dean, who had previously raised safety concerns and alleged misconduct at the aircraft manufacturer, was the second whistleblower linked to Boeing to die in the last two months, as the company faces increased scrutiny.
Dean, 45, was a resident of Wichita, Kan., and was reportedly in good health before he began experiencing breathing difficulties two weeks ago. His rapid health deterioration, described as "brutal" and "heartbreaking" by his aunt, led to his hospitalization. Dean's condition quickly worsened, with him testing positive for influenza B and MRSA, a difficult-to-treat bacterial infection, and developing pneumonia. He was eventually put on life support and suffered a stroke.
The sudden death of Dean, who had been vocal about safety issues at Spirit AeroSystems, has sent shockwaves through the aviation community. "Josh's passing is a loss to the aviation community and the flying public," said Brian Knowles, a lawyer who represented Dean and another whistleblower, John Barnett, who died in March. "He possessed tremendous courage to stand up for what he felt was true and right and raised quality and safety issues."
Dean had been employed at Spirit AeroSystems since 2019 and had raised concerns about improperly drilled bulkhead holes on some 737 Max planes at Spirit’s plant in Wichita in October 2022. Despite reporting the issue to several managers, the company allegedly concealed it from investors until it became public knowledge in August 2023, when Boeing and Spirit announced a delay in plane deliveries due to the defect.
Dean was terminated by Spirit in April 2023, ostensibly over a separate issue he failed to identify as an internal inspector. He later filed a complaint to the Federal Aviation Administration, alleging that he was made a scapegoat while Spirit did nothing to inform regulators and the public of the concerns he had flagged.
Dean's death follows the death of another whistleblower, John Barnett, who had spent years warning about lax safety standards at Boeing. Barnett was found in his truck with what authorities described as an apparent "self-inflicted gunshot wound," in Charleston, S.C., on March 9, amid depositions he was giving related to a similar alleged retaliation dispute with Boeing. An investigation remains ongoing.
The recent deaths of these two whistleblowers have sparked conspiracy theories on social media. However, Knowles, their lawyer, said, "I do not want to speculate, and I would like to see the evidence from the investigating authorities." He added, "what society does not need is people in fear to speak up."
Boeing and its suppliers, including Spirit AeroSystems, have been under increased scrutiny following repeated quality-assurance lapses. Amidst these controversies, Boeing reported a net loss of $355 million in its latest quarter, burning through $3.9 billion in cash in the year's first quarter.
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