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John Barnett, known for his role in ensuring quality and safety at Boeing, passed away on March 9th, 2024, raising questions about Boeing's practices.

Barnett, who retired in 2017, dedicated over three decades of his life to Boeing, notably contributing as the quality manager for the 787 Dreamliner’s production at the North Chaeleston Facility.

In 2019, Barnett made his presence seen to the public eye, unveiling troubling practices with Boeing’s production lines in an interview with BBC.

He exposed how workers were knowingly fitting aircrafts with parts that didn’t meet Boeing’s rigorous standards.

A significant concern Barnett highlighted was aircrafts’ oxygen mask systems, where he claimed a failure rate of one in every four masks during emergencies.

Barnett didn’t stop there; he criticized the rushed assembly processes that, in his view, compromised an aircraft’s safety.

Furthermore, he pointed out lapses in the tracking system for aircraft components, a claim Boeing flatly denied.

Still, Barnett's claims received some support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

His career was tarnished in retaliation for his whistleblowing.

His preparation for trial was cut short, as he was discovered dead in a Charleston hotel, where he had been residing.

Boeing’s response to Barnett’s demise was one of mourning, extending sympathies to his family and associates.

This incident adds to a series of setbacks for Boeing, already grappling with technical glitches.

A notable event earlier in the year involved a 737 MAX9 making an emergency landing after losing a section of its fuselage mid-air.

Following the incident, Barnett’s death has drawn increased attention.

This incident triggered a closer examination on numerous other accidents and defects, marking the beginning of Boeing’s significant downturn.

Further investigations revealed a pattern of loose bolts in the aircraft’s structure.

The FAA’s recent audit uncovered multiple instances suggesting Boeing’s deviation from established manufacturing quality standards.

In light of these events, it’s reported that the U.S. Department of Justice has sought an official response and investigation from Boeing regarding the situation.

As the aviation industry considers Barnett’s contributions and the circumstances surrounding his death, the spotlight turns to Boeing’s forthcoming actions.

The root cause appears to be Boeing’s board, including CEO James McNerney, prioritizing financial performance over quality, leading to widespread cost-cutting measures on aircraft production.

This shift made airlines increasingly hesitant to purchase Boeing aircrafts.

Southwest Airlines already refused delivery of the 737 MAX, and United Airlines is reconsidering its order of the 737 MAX 10, looking instead towards Airbus aircrafts.

Airbus is expected to fill the gap left by Boeing, with airlines worldwide canceling orders for Boeing aircrafts due to the inability to handle manufacturer orders, potentially impacting the aviation supply chain.

Additionally, with the pandemic ending and travel demand surging, CNN Business predicts inflation in the aviation industry.

CNN adds that, with Boeing and Airbus being the only two suppliers in the aircraft manufacturing market and high barriers to entry being present, the future supply disruptions and fare increases in the aviation industry will depend on how quickly Airbus can grow.