WASHINGTON. He had worked as a quality inspector for a Boeing supplier and urgently warned his superiors and the authorities about production errors in the fuselage of the 737 Max jet. Now Josh Dean is dead. The 45-year-old died of a “sudden bacterial infection,” it is said. Previously, Dean was apparently in good health and was known for his healthy lifestyle.
Dean’s death raises numerous questions. He is the second Boeing whistleblower to die this year. In March, 62-year-old former Boeing executive John “Mitch” Barnett was found dead. For years he had informed the public about blatant deficiencies at the aircraft manufacturer. Officially it is assumed that he committed suicide, but his relatives believe that is completely impossible. The police investigation into his death is ongoing.
There are now heated discussions on social media. There is speculation as to whether the two cases could be related. However, the couple’s lawyers declined to comment on the circumstances of the two deaths.
Fatal crashes and flight bans
Only one thing is certain: After fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019 that killed hundreds of passengers, regulators worldwide grounded the 737 jet, resulting in lost sales and billions of dollars in costs for Boeing . The ban on flying the model was only lifted in the USA in November 2020 following technical restructuring.
