Review of The Netflix Documentary Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing Rating *****
In 1994, an ATR 72 operated by American Eagle crashed in Roselawn, Indiana, killing all 68 people on board. Investigators later determined that the ATR had a design flaw that allowed ice to accumulate beyond the de‑icing boots. As details about the crash and the design flaw became public, the aircraft quickly developed a reputation for being unsafe. Some passengers refused to fly on it. The backlash became so intense that several operators took the unusual step of flying the ATR only in warm climates to avoid icing conditions altogether.
A similar distrust in an aircraft type occurred in 1979 when the FAA grounded the DC‑10 after a string of major accidents, including the crash of American Airlines Flight 191 in Chicago — still the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. While the DC‑10 eventually returned to service, its reputation never recovered. Over the following years, most DC‑10s migrated to cargo operations, where the aircraft found a second life far removed from passenger service.
The documentary Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing has the potential to cause lasting damage to Boeing’s storied reputation. Boeing’s stock is already in decline following the film’s release. The documentary is framed around the death of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett. The filmmakers begin with the discovery of Barnett’s body in his truck and allow the cause of his death to remain a mystery until the real reason is revealed toward the end of the film. In between those two points, viewers hear from an assortment of other whistleblowers who describe a culture of unsafe practices inside Boeing.
Beyond highlighting the cost‑cutting that has led to several well‑known disasters — including the two 737 MAX crashes and incidents like the door plug blowing out of a Boeing 737 MAX 9 at 16,000 feet — the filmmakers place the blame squarely on the shoulders of three of the company’s most recent CEOs: Jim McNerney, Dennis Muilenburg, and Dave Calhoun. The man most responsible for the culture of money over safety is Jim McNerney. He is the architect of the decision to build a manufacturing plant in South Carolina, primarily to avoid paying higher union labor costs. He also initiated the misguided strategy of outsourcing critical components in a further effort to save money. The result was an untrained workforce and parts that did not meet necessary standards. And what consequences did McNerney face? He was rewarded with hundreds of millions of dollars in salary, bonuses, and retirement income.
While the three CEOs did not face any accountability and instead were rewarded with exorbitant compensation packages, this documentary does hold them accountable. There is some satisfaction in seeing Dave Calhoun squirm while being questioned during a Senate hearing on Capitol Hill. No matter what luxurious lifestyle these three men now enjoy, their reputations are forever tainted. That is some solace to the family members of passengers lost on Boeing airplanes.
The idea of blaming pilots or third parties rather than accepting responsibility didn’t start with the three CEOs highlighted in Freefall. It goes back much further. I wrote about this in my book Scapegoat: A Flight Crew’s Journey From Heroes to Villains to Redemption, which tells the story of an airline crew wrongly blamed for causing a near‑fatal crash and the captain’s decades‑long battle to clear his name.
That case revealed a pattern: Boeing was quick to point the finger at the pilots rather than acknowledge a possible design flaw in the Boeing 727 — and potentially in the early Boeing 737 as well. The instinct to deflect, deny, and protect the brand at all costs didn’t begin with the 737 MAX. It’s woven into the company’s history.
Catch this one on Netflix.