Boeing Safety Culture Under Fire in New Documentary

The documentary Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing examines the safety culture at Boeing through the experiences of whistleblowers and employees who raised concerns about manufacturing and quality-control practices. The film focuses on the story of John Barnett, a former Boeing employee who worked as a quality manager at the company's 787 Dreamliner facility in Charleston, South Carolina.

Barnett became a whistleblower after raising concerns about debris near flight-control wiring, incomplete records, missing parts, and problems with emergency oxygen systems. He filed complaints with federal regulators and was featured in Rory Kennedy's earlier documentary Downfall: The Case Against Boeing. Barnett had also sued Boeing, alleging retaliation for speaking up about safety concerns.

Barnett died in March 2024 while testifying in a deposition connected to his lawsuit against the company. His death was ruled a suicide, but it sparked further investigation into Boeing's safety culture and practices. The documentary Freefall uses Barnett's story as an entry point to examine broader questions about whistleblowing, workplace pressure, and Boeing's safety culture.