Popular Boeing whistleblower, a former quality manager who raised concerns about manufacturing practices at the company’s 787 Dreamliner factory in South Carolina, has been found dead in the US.

Local officials confirmed his death in what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

His death comes days before he was due to give evidence in a whistleblower lawsuit against Boeing.

“We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends,” Boeing said in a statement.

At the time of his death, Mr Barnett had been in Charleston for legal interviews linked to that case.

He had given a formal deposition, last week, in which he was questioned by Boeing’s lawyers, before being cross-examined by his own counsel.

He was due to undergo further questioning on Saturday. When he did not appear, enquiries were made at his hotel.

He was subsequently found dead in his truck in the hotel car park.

Mr Barnett had worked for the US plane giant for more than 30 years, until his retirement in 2017 on health grounds.

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