CHARLESTON, S.C. — Mega-aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, is facing a wrongful death lawsuit more than a year after a company whistleblower was found dead in Charleston, South Carolina.

62-year-old John Barnett was found dead on March 9, 2024, from what local authorities said was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Barnett was a longtime Boeing employee before his retirement in 2017.

Following his retirement, Barnett filed a whistleblower complaint raising safety and quality-control concerns inside Boeing’s Charleston facility. According to the Associated Press, a hearing on the case was scheduled for June.

He and other former employees took part in interviews with national media outlets accusing the company of valuing profits over safety.

On Wednesday, Barnett’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in South Carolina District Court.

The complaint claims Barnett faced "harassment, abuse, and intimidation intended to discourage, discredit, and humiliate him until he would either give up or be discredited,” by company management after speaking out.

According to the lawsuit, years of harsh treatment caused Barnett to develop “PTSD, depression, and anxiety”, allegedly leading to his death.

It also alleges a Boeing senior manager once told him, “I’m going to push you until you break” after Barnett reported safety issues during a U.S. Senate Committee hearing.

Boeing released a comment following the lawsuit: “We are saddened by John Barnett’s death and extend our condolences to his family.”

The plaintiffs have requested a jury trial.