Boeing-owned Wisk Aero accused of firing manager who raised safety concerns

Wisk Aero, the electric air taxi enterprise under the Boeing umbrella, is facing serious allegations following a lawsuit filed by a former employee. Briahna O’Neill, a former software manager, claims she was unjustly terminated after voicing critical safety concerns. The lawsuit, initiated in Santa Clara Superior Court, cites both discrimination and wrongful dismissal. O’Neill's accusations, first reported by the Seattle Times, detail her filing of two internal safety reports. These reports reportedly highlighted pressures within Wisk to minimize the FAA-mandated software testing in order to meet an ambitious test flight schedule set for 2025. According to O’Neill, her termination occurred mere weeks after she lodged her second safety complaint. Founded in 2019, Wisk Aero is among a select group of companies striving to bring commercially viable electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to market, with a particular focus on achieving full autonomy. Earlier this year, Wisk was one of eight companies granted FAA approval to participate in a three-year program dedicated to testing such aircraft. The company has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the lawsuit.