Family members of a Boeing whistleblower who died suddenly on Tuesday have posted messages of mourning on social media.
Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, had accused the supplier of ignoring defects in the production of the 737 MAX planes, which have been under scrutiny following a series of plane crashes and other safety issues.
Dean's sister, Taylor Rae Roberts, posted a tribute to him on Facebook, writing, "My handsome brother Joshua passed away this morning and is with our baby brother. I don't know how much more my family can take. I don't know how much more I can take honestly."
His aunt, Jenny Dean, shared two images of him and wrote, "My dear nephew Joshua passed away this morning. Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts."
Another relative, Carol Dean Parsons, posted about his death, "I am grateful for the prayers of my family and friends for this young man. He passed away yesterday morning, and his absence will be deeply felt. We will always love you Josh," adding that he was 44 years old.
In April, Dean's aunt shared an update from his mother which said he had tested positive for influenza B and MRSA which had turned into pneumonia, and that he had suffered a stroke.
Dean's lawyer Brian Knowles described his death to Al Jazeera as a "loss to the aviation community and the flying public."
A spokesperson for his former employer Spirit AeroSystems told the news network, "This sudden loss is stunning news here at Spirit and for his loved ones."
Dean, who worked at the company's factory in Wichita, Kansas, gave statements as part of a shareholder lawsuit against the company.
He was fired in April 2023, and told NPR that it was in response to him flagging improperly drilled holes in fuselages.
"I think they were sending out a message to anybody else," Dean claimed. "If you are too loud, we will silence you."
Dean is the second Boeing whistleblower to die suddenly after John Barnett was found dead less than two months ago.
Former Boeing employee Barnett died of a gunshot wound that appeared to be self-inflicted, South Carolina authorities said.
Boeing has faced a PR nightmare after a series of incidents with its aircraft. The aviation company's CEO, Dave Calhoun, announced last month that he will step down at the end of the year following the safety crisis.
Update 5/2/24, 11:00 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Correction 5/2/24, 11:00 a.m. ET: This article was updated to correct John Barnett's name.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
