Filmmaker Rory Kennedy, an Oscar-nominated documentarian and member of the Kennedy family, initially believed her examination of Boeing’s safety practices had concluded with her 2022 film “Downfall: The Case Against Boeing.” That documentary investigated how the aircraft manufacturer prioritized profits over safety measures, ultimately contributing to two 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people. However, the unexpected death of John Barnett, a key whistleblower featured in the film, prompted Kennedy to revisit the story.
Barnett, who served as Boeing’s quality manager for over three decades, died in March 2024 under circumstances Kennedy describes as suspicious—just one day before he was scheduled to give his third deposition. Kennedy’s new Netflix documentary “Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing,” releasing August 19, explores the investigation into Barnett’s death while examining broader concerns about the company’s safety culture and its continued operations.
The film features testimony from former Boeing employees and grieving families affected by the 737 MAX crashes. It also examines a controversial Department of Justice settlement allowing Boeing to avoid criminal convictions while maintaining government contractor status. Through undercover footage filmed at Boeing’s South Carolina manufacturing facility, the documentary reveals systemic quality control problems, including accounts from workers who refused to board aircraft they helped produce.
Kennedy’s investigation portrays a company that allegedly punished employees for reporting safety violations and prioritized financial gains over aircraft integrity. The filmmaker emphasized the gravity of quality issues in aviation, stating she would not board either the 737 MAX or the 787 Dreamliner.
Originally reported by Variety →
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