Boeing Whistleblower's Mysterious Death Probed in New Doc

A new documentary, 'Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing', is set to premiere on Netflix, exploring the mysterious death of John Barnett, a former Boeing quality manager and whistleblower. Barnett was found dead in his car in March 2024, one day prior to his third deposition, under what the film's director, Rory Kennedy, calls 'quite suspicious circumstances'.

Barnett had served as Boeing's quality manager from 1985 to 2017 and was a key subject in Kennedy's previous documentary, 'Downfall: The Case Against Boeing'. The film probed the 'profits over people' approach at the airplane manufacturer, which led to two 737 MAX planes crashing within five months of each other, killing 346 people. The crashes occurred in October 2018, when Lion Air Flight 610 went down, killing all 189 people on board, and in March 2019, when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed, killing 157 people.

The documentary also examines the Trump Department of Justice's $1.1 billion nonprosecution agreement with Boeing, which allowed the company to avoid criminal convictions over the 737 MAX crashes. The agreement has been criticized by victims' families, who are outraged that the company was able to retain its status as a government contractor despite the deadly crashes.

## What changed The film features testimony from former Boeing employees who contend that the company failed to dramatically improve its safety standards. It also includes hidden camera footage from Boeing's Dreamliner assembly plant, which produces the 787 Dreamliner. The plant, located in South Carolina, is nonunion, and former CEO Jim McNerney had incorporated a 'profits above all else' approach at the company.

## Why it matters The documentary raises important questions about corporate accountability and the prioritization of profits over safety. The FAA lifted its grounding order on the Boeing 737 MAX in November 2020, but the film suggests that the aviation safety scandal is still ongoing. The story of John Barnett's mysterious death serves as a catalyst for the film's exploration of these issues, and his legacy continues to inspire other whistleblowers to come forward.

The film's release is timely, given the ongoing concerns about aviation safety and the need for greater accountability from corporations. As the documentary premieres on Netflix, it is likely to spark important conversations about the priorities of companies like Boeing and the impact of their actions on people's lives.