A former employee of the electric air taxi company Wisk Aero has taken legal action against her employer, alleging she was fired for voicing safety concerns. Briahna O’Neill, formerly a software manager at Wisk, claims she alerted the company to how engineers were reducing FAA-mandated testing in order to meet their 2025 test flight deadline.

Wisk Aero is one of eight companies approved by the FAA for a three-year programme aimed at developing autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The lawsuit, filed this week in Santa Clara Superior Court, accuses Wisk of discrimination and wrongful termination. Boeing has not commented on the matter.

O’Neill said she reported her concerns internally twice, with the second report just weeks before she was dismissed. A spokesperson for Wisk stated they cannot comment on ongoing litigation but defended their work, saying: 'Wisk is committed to safety and innovation in air mobility.'

The case raises questions about corporate culture at tech-driven aviation companies and the risks of pushing boundaries too far. As electric air taxis move closer to becoming a reality, ensuring robust safety standards remains crucial.