Joshua Dean, one of the original whistleblowers in the Boeing controversy, died on Tuesday at the age of 45, according to media sources. Dean, a former quality auditor for Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, was suffering a sudden and severe lung illness.
He lived in Wichita, Kansas, where the Boeing supplier is headquartered. According to media accounts, Dean was ill with respiratory problems just over a fortnight ago. Despite undergoing rigorous medical attention, including treatment with an ECMO machine, he fought for several days before dying.
Dean’s mother had previously provided updates on Facebook, stating that he was “fighting for his life” and had suffered a stroke, according to the Seattle Times. Carol Parsons, his aunt, confirmed his death after he was in serious condition for two weeks.
He was one of the first informants to voice concerns over Spirit’s management’s failure to notice manufacturing flaws in the 737 Max. Among the things he had noted were incorrectly drilled holes in the aft pressure bulkhead, which is essential to preserving cabin pressure.
He raised the issue of the 737 MAX aircraft’s production defects in 2022 and reported his worries to Spirit’s management, claiming that they were ignored. He then filed a report of “serious misconduct” with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and testified in a lawsuit filed by Spirit’s shareholders.