A new Netflix documentary is shining a spotlight on allegations that Boeing prioritized profits over passenger safety through dangerous manufacturing practices. “Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing,” released this week, features interviews with former company employees who claim the aerospace manufacturer cut corners in production despite public commitments to improve quality control following fatal crashes.
The documentary builds on previous investigations into two catastrophic incidents involving Boeing 737 Max aircraft. Director Rory Kennedy was motivated to create the film after the death of John Barnett, a former quality engineer and whistleblower who had exposed safety concerns. The project also incorporates never-before-seen deposition testimony from Barnett and features additional whistleblowers who have stepped forward with accounts of retaliation and hostile work environments.
Boeing responded to the documentary with a statement asserting that the company has strengthened its standards following lawsuits and congressional scrutiny. The manufacturer emphasized implementation of a new Values and Behaviors program and maintained that some allegations remain unfounded. However, the film presents former employees describing a corporate culture where production speed and market competition against rival Airbus overshadowed safety considerations.
The documentary examines how Boeing’s approach allegedly changed after Jim McNerney became CEO in 2005, shifting away from the company’s earlier practice of empowering quality control managers to halt production when problems arose.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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