Wisk Aero, an electric air taxi company backed by Boeing, faces a lawsuit from a former software manager alleging wrongful termination after she raised concerns about reduced safety testing to meet a deadline.
The lawsuit raises questions about Wisk Aero's commitment to safety and regulatory compliance as it develops advanced air mobility technology, potentially impacting investor confidence and regulatory scrutiny for the company and its parent, Boeing.
Wisk Aero, an electric air taxi company backed by Boeing, is being sued by a former employee who alleges she was wrongfully terminated after voicing safety concerns. Briahna O’Neill, a former software manager, filed a lawsuit in Santa Clara Superior Court, claiming that she was fired weeks after submitting two internal safety reports.
According to the lawsuit, O’Neill’s reports detailed how Wisk engineers were allegedly reducing the amount of software testing required by the FAA to meet a 2025 test flight deadline. Boeing, the owner of Wisk, declined to comment on the lawsuit when contacted by The Seattle Times, which first reported the legal action.
Wisk Aero, founded in 2019, is developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and is one of the few companies aiming for full autonomy in this sector. The company was among eight approved by the FAA earlier this year to participate in a three-year program for testing such aircraft. Wisk did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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