Freefall': A Kennedy Scion Probes the Mysterious Death of a Boeing Whistleblower

Rory Kennedy’s new Netflix documentary, “Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing,” examines both Boeing’s 737 MAX crashes and the March 2024 death of whistleblower John Barnett. The film premiered Aug. 19 and serves as a follow-up to Kennedy’s 2022 “Downfall: The Case Against Boeing,” which argued the company prioritized profits over safety and followed a pair of 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people. Kennedy says she returned to the story after investigating Barnett’s death, which occurred one day before his third deposition, and describes it as “suspicious.” The documentary includes testimony from former Boeing employees and depicts concerns that Boeing failed to dramatically improve safety standards, alongside criticism tied to a 2021-era DOJ nonprosecution agreement worth $1.1 billion.