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A second whistleblower against Boeing has died. Joshua Dean worked as a quality auditor at Spirit AeroSystems, which supplied parts to Boeing.
According to the Seattle Times, Dean became sick two weeks ago and was hospitalized. He was intubated as his condition worsened. He eventually contracted pneumonia and MRSA before he passed away on Wednesday (May 1). He was 45.
Last year, Dean testified in a shareholder lawsuit, claiming that Spirit AeroSystems ignored defects and cut corners on manufacturing parts for Boeing's 737 Max.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal in January, Dean said he was fired for pointing out the holes were drilled incorrectly in the fuselage.
"It is known at Spirit that if you make too much noise and cause too much trouble, you will be moved," Dean said. "It doesn't mean you completely disregard stuff, but they don't want you to find everything and write it up."
Dean is the second Boeing whistleblower to suddenly die. In March, 62-year-old John Barnett was found dead in his car in a hotel parking lot with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was in the middle of testifying against Boeing when he died.