Boeing whistleblower, who had revealed flaws in 737 MAX planes, passes away

A former quality auditor at Boeing, Joshua Dean, who was one of the first to raise concerns about the flaws in the manufacturing of the 737 MAX planes, passed away Wednesday, reports citing his close relatives stated.

Dean’s death has been attributed to a sudden illness, the Al Jazeera reported. Earlier, Josh’s mother had shared updates on Facebook saying his son is a “fighting for his life” and had even suffered a stroke.

“He possessed tremendous courage to stand up for what he felt was true and right and raised quality and safety issues. Aviation companies should encourage and incentivise those that do raise these concerns. Otherwise, safety and quality are truly not these companies’ top priorities,” his lawyer Brian Knowles told Al Jazeera.

According to Dean’s revelations, there were improperly drilled holes in the aft pressure bulkhead of the 737 MAX planes, a crucial component for maintaining cabin pressure. He was later fired in retaliation for flagging lax standards at the company’s Kansas manufacturing plant.

Another Boeing whistleblower, John Barnett, had reportedly died by suicide two months ago.

Dean fell ill just over two weeks ago with breathing difficulties. Despite aggressive medical intervention, including an ECMO machine, Dean struggled for a few days before passing away.

For the latest news from across India, Political updates, Explainers, Sports News, Opinion, Entertainment Updates and more Top News, visit Indian Express. Subscribe to our award-winning Newsletter Download our App here Android & iOS