Wisk Accused of Rushing Software Testing to Meet Autonomous Aircraft Deadline
Key Takeaways
- ▸Former Wisk software manager alleges executives pressured engineers to reduce testing on flight-critical software to stay on schedule for the first flight
- ▸O'Neill was fired in March 2025 after raising two internal safety reports, then sued for retaliation and wrongful termination
- ▸Her firing triggered internal employee backlash, suggesting other staff members shared concerns about safety practices
Summary
Briahna O'Neill, a former software manager at Wisk Aero (Boeing's autonomous air taxi subsidiary), has accused the company of rushing software testing on flight-critical systems to meet deadlines for its sixth-generation aircraft. O'Neill alleges that Wisk executives pushed engineers to reduce testing in the months leading up to the aircraft's first flight, which took place in December 2024. She was fired in March 2025 after filing two internal safety reports detailing these concerns.
O'Neill's termination sparked internal protests, with employees sending messages to management urging them to take her safety concerns seriously. On Monday, she filed a lawsuit in Santa Clara Superior Court against Wisk and its parent company Boeing, alleging discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Both companies have declined to comment on the litigation.
The allegations raise critical questions about safety practices in the emerging autonomous aircraft industry. Wisk is developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that operate without pilots, seating four passengers and capable of traveling 90 miles. The company aims to secure FAA certification by the end of the decade—a milestone no eVTOL manufacturer has yet achieved.
The incident highlights broader tensions in the race to commercialize autonomous aircraft, where companies are balancing development timelines with rigorous safety testing requirements. Wisk, which became a wholly-owned Boeing subsidiary in 2023 after receiving $450 million in funding, is one of several competitors vying to bring eVTOL services to market.
- Wisk is developing autonomous eVTOL aircraft without pilot controls, targeting FAA certification by 2030
- The case underscores tensions between development timelines and safety testing rigor in the emerging autonomous aircraft industry
