During the process of demonstrating design compliance for certification of a new type, pilot Forkner would have been acting as a member of a certification team. Both in the cockpit, and in the broader certification sense. That certification team would involve many people with delegated authority to make a finding of compliance on behalf of the FAA, not just pilot Forkner. And, that team would not be upper management at Boeing. I have no opinion who might have influenced whom to do what, but an effort to suppress test observations would not be a solo effort. That said, many other certification requirements not associated with flight also required a demonstration and finding of compliance (by FAA staff/DER/delegate) as a part of this effort, it wasn't just pilot stuff....