Boeing's Safety Catastrophe Exposed in New Documentary 'Freefall'

Documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy's latest film 'Freefall' takes aim at Boeing's safety record, alleging that the company prioritized profits over passenger safety. The film is a follow-up to her 2022 documentary 'Downfall: The Case Against Boeing', which explored the crashes of two Boeing 737 Max planes in 2018 and 2019.

Kennedy focuses on the story of John Barnett, a former Boeing safety inspector who took his own life after being deposed by company attorneys. Barnett was concerned that Boeing was sacrificing safety procedures for profit, and his colleagues describe pressure from management to overlook safety protocols.

The film also delves into the case of Merle Meyers, a former employee who spoke out about the use of rotted aircraft materials on new 787 Dreamliner planes. Kennedy also interviews family members of those killed in the 737 Max crashes, including Naoise Connolly Ryan, whose husband was among the victims.

Kennedy argues that Boeing's actions were driven by a series of decisions made by successive CEOs, who prioritized profit over safety. She notes that the company moved production from Seattle to South Carolina in 2011 and employed undertrained workers, which contributed to the problems with the 737 Max.