Rory Kennedy revisits Boeing in new film sparked by whistleblower’s death: ‘We’ve got to stay at this’
Summary
Filmmaker Rory Kennedy made a new documentary about Boeing after whistleblower John Barnett died by suicide. Barnett exposed safety problems and poor practices at Boeing, including using defective parts on planes and issues with emergency oxygen systems. The film aims to share his story and highlight ongoing concerns about Boeing’s safety standards.Key Facts
- John Barnett worked at Boeing for 32 years and became a whistleblower about safety issues.
- Barnett was found dead in 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
- Barnett reported that defective parts, some painted red to mark them as scrap, were used on passenger jets.
- He found that 25% of Boeing 787 Dreamliner emergency oxygen systems failed tests.
- Barnett said Boeing management harassed him and told him not to document safety concerns to avoid responsibility.
- Rory Kennedy’s new documentary, "Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing," is a follow-up to her earlier film about Boeing crashes.
- The previous Boeing 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed 346 people and were central to the first documentary.
- Boeing disputes the claims about the 787 Dreamliner’s safety and states they ensure the aircraft’s quality.
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