Joshua Dean, a 45-year-old former quality controller at Spirit AeroSystems, a major Boeing supplier that makes parts for the 737 MAX, died Tuesday, the Seattle Times reported.
Although he was in good health, Dean became ill just two weeks ago with breathing difficulties. He was admitted to the hospital and put on a ventilator, developed pneumonia and then a serious bacterial infection, MRSA.
Dean was one of the first to claim that Spirit management ignored manufacturing defects in the 737 MAX. He filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) detailing “serious and gross misconduct by senior quality officials” on Spirit’s 737 production line.
After his efforts to raise safety concerns, Dean was fired from Spirit in April 2023. He subsequently filed a complaint with the Department of Labor alleging retaliation for his actions.
“Our thoughts are with Josh Dean’s family,” Spirit spokesman Joe Buccino said in a statement. “This sudden loss is unimaginable news both here and to his loved ones,” according to the Seattle Times.
Dean’s death comes just months after the death of another Boeing whistleblower, John “Mitch” Barnett.
Barnett, a former Boeing engineer, raised concerns about the 737 MAX’s flight control system in 2017, long before the model was grounded after two fatal crashes. He later claimed that Boeing pressured him to downplay the seriousness of the issues.
In early March, Boeing whistleblower John Barnett was found dead. South Carolina authorities reported the 62-year-old’s cause of death as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The deaths of these whistleblowers have raised questions about potential security lapses in the 737 MAX program and the treatment of employees who raise such concerns.
The FAA is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Dean’s claims against Spirit, while the Department of Labor will review his retaliation complaint.
The 737 MAX was grounded around the world for 20 months after the crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019.
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