Archive — US — techcrunch
Boeing-owned Wisk Aero accused of firing manager who raised safety concerns
Wisk Aero, a Boeing-owned electric air taxi company, faces a lawsuit from former manager Briahna O’Neill who alleges wrongful termination for reporting safety issues. She claims Wisk compromised FAA-required software testing to meet a 2025 test flight deadline, leading to her firing shortly after her complaints.
Key points
- Briahna O’Neill, a former software manager at Wisk Aero, was fired after raising safety concerns.
- She filed two internal safety reports about reduced FAA-required software testing.
- Wisk allegedly reduced testing to meet a 2025 test flight deadline, compromising safety.
- O’Neill's lawsuit includes claims of discrimination and wrongful termination.
- Wisk has been proactive in seeking FAA approval for testing electric air taxis.
Why it matters
- This incident highlights ongoing concerns about safety and ethics in the rapidly evolving eVTOL industry.
- Safety issues in aviation have historical precedence, with significant events often stemming from negligence.
- The incident could impact public trust and regulatory scrutiny in the growing sector of autonomous vehicles.
- In 2025, the emphasis on IT trends includes safety compliance, leading to increased scrutiny on software development practices within aviation.
The lawsuit against Wisk Aero underscores crucial safety concerns in the development of innovative air transportation technologies, emphasizing the need for integrity in engineering practices as the industry strives for autonomy.