A Boeing 737 MAX sits outside the hangar during a media tour of the Boeing 737 MAX at the Boeing plant in Renton, Washington. In a statement Monday, ​Boeing said: ​​"We are saddened by Mr. Barnett's passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends." A former Boeing quality inspector who filed a whistleblower complaint over alleged plane safety flaws was found dead "from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound," officials in Charleston, South Carolina, said Monday. Boeing said then that it was following the ruling and would look to improve the design of the nut, but also said it wasn't a flight safety issue. After his retirement in 2017, Barnett filed a whistleblower complaint to federal regulators about his experiences at the South Carolina plant.

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Persons: Barnett, Mitch, ​, Barnett's, Bobbi Jo O'Neal, John Barnett, —, I'd, John, Vicky Melder Stokes, Mike Barnett, Robbie Barnett, Rodney Barnett Organizations: Boeing, ​ Boeing, NBC, The New York Times, FAA, Times, Department, Alaska Airlines, Max, Prevention Locations: Renton , Washington, Charleston , South Carolina, Charleston County, South Carolina, Charleston, Sydney, Auckland , New Zealand