A second person who was deposed in regard to safety concerns related to Boeing aircrafts has died suddenly.
Joshua Dean, a quality inspector for the Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, died this week after a surprise infection left him in critical condition for days, according to his family.
Dean had been deposed in connection with a shareholder lawsuit and had reported dangerous faults in components of Boeing's 737 MAX plane — a model linked to a number of catastrophes in recent years. (RELATED: ‘Technical Event' On Boeing Flight Leaves Dozens Injured)
According to the Seattle Times, Dean was said to be in good health and lived a healthy lifestyle prior to suddenly developing trouble breathing. He was admitted to hospital in April, where he was intubated for his symptoms.
The cause was Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, an antibiotic-resistant staph infection commonly known as MRSA, his aunt Carol Parsons told the Seattle Times, which first reported the death.
Dean was reportedly one of the first whistleblowers to file a complaint with the Federal Aviation Commission about alleged “serious and gross misconduct by senior quality management of the 737 production line” by his former employer, Spirit. He was fired from Spirit in April 2023 after filing a complaint with the Department of Labor alleging his dismissal was retaliation for raising aviation safety concerns, according to the Seattle Times.
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