Boeing Whistleblower Died by Suicide as Feds Probed Safety Concerns

Former Quality Auditor Raised Concerns About 737 Max

Dean's Death Raises Questions About Boeing's Culture and Oversight

RENTON, Wash. - A former Boeing supplier employee who raised safety concerns and alleged misconduct died by suicide as federal investigators probed his claims, his family's attorney said Monday.

Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Spirit AeroSystems, flagged safety concerns about the Boeing 737 Max, the aircraft involved in two deadly crashes that killed 346 people. He also alleged misconduct by the aircraft manufacturer.

Dean's death on May 2, 2024, at age 49, came as the Department of Justice and the Federal Aviation Administration were investigating his claims. His family's attorney, Robert Clifford, said Dean had been "under tremendous stress" as a result of his allegations and the subsequent investigations.

"Josh Dean was a brave and patriotic American who tried to do the right thing," Clifford said in a statement. "He put his job and his safety on the line to expose what he believed was a serious safety hazard, and he paid for it with his life."

Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems did not immediately respond to requests for comment.