Boeing safety culture examined in new Netflix documentary

The new Netflix documentary, ‘Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing,’ directed by Rory Kennedy, examines the ongoing safety and cultural issues at Boeing. Following the 2022 film ‘Downfall: The Case Against Boeing,’ this installment focuses on the company’s internal whistleblowers who attempted to alert leadership to manufacturing defects.

A central figure in the film is John Barnett, a former quality control manager who reported serious flaws in the production of the 787 Dreamliner. Barnett died in March 2024 in Charleston while participating in legal proceedings against the company. The documentary also highlights other whistleblowers, such as Sam Mohawk and Merle Meyers, and features testimonies from crash survivors.

The film critiques a corporate culture that prioritized cost-cutting and shareholder profits over engineering integrity. It identifies a shift in management philosophy beginning around 2005 under CEO Jim McNerney, suggesting that subsequent leadership focused on stock value and outsourcing at the expense of safety. The documentary connects these systemic issues to various incidents, including the 737 MAX crashes and the Alaska Airlines mid-air door plug blowout.