US DOJ Defends Plea Deal with Boeing Amid Controversy

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has defended its plea deal with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) in a recent court filing, asserting that it lacks sufficient evidence to prosecute the aerospace giant for more severe crimes. This plea deal, which Boeing reached last month, involves the company pleading guilty to conspiring to defraud the US government over the two fatal B737-8 crashes in 2018 and 2019. Boeing has agreed to a fine of up to USD 243.6 million in exchange for avoiding a criminal trial.

The deal has faced criticism, particularly from the families of the 346 victims who perished in the accidents. They have argued that the agreement falls short of justice for the deceased. Despite these concerns, DOJ officials have emphasized that the plea deal represents a substantial and effective resolution. They argue that the agreement holds Boeing accountable for the most serious, readily provable offenses.

In court, DOJ officials argued to US District Judge Reed O’Connor that the plea deal is a robust resolution that serves both public interest and accountability. Judge O’Connor, based in Fort Worth, Texas, has the option to accept or reject the plea agreement. Should he reject it, the DOJ and Boeing may need to engage in further negotiations.

The DOJ also highlighted its inability to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Boeing’s fraud directly caused the Lion Air (JT, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) and Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa International) crashes. This limitation was a key factor in the plea deal’s formulation.

Boeing has chosen not to comment publicly on the plea agreement. However, it is important to note that the company may still face charges related to a separate incident involving an Alaska Airlines B737-9 in January. In that case, a mid-cabin plugged exit door separated mid-flight, causing explosive decompression.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com