Families Urge Judge to Reject Boeing 737 Max Plea Deal
Families of victims killed in the two Boeing 737 Max crashes are asking a federal judge to reject a plea agreement that would allow Boeing to avoid criminal prosecution. The crashes, which occurred in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019, claimed 346 lives and led to global scrutiny of Boeing’s safety practices.
The plea deal, announced in July 2024, allows Boeing to avoid a felony conviction and oversight by an independent monitor. Instead, the company would pay $1.1 billion in total, including a $243.6 million fine and $444.5 million into a victims’ compensation fund, in addition to investments in safety and compliance upgrades.
The families argue the agreement is not in the public interest and lacks enforceable oversight. They cited Judge Reed O’Connor’s 2023 comment labeling Boeing’s actions “the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history.” They also claim the Department of Justice has bound itself to the deal before the court’s approval, urging the judge to appoint a special prosecutor if the agreement is rejected.
Boeing was previously set to stand trial on June 23 for criminal fraud conspiracy, accused of misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 Max’s flight control system, which contributed to the crashes. Under the plea deal, Boeing admits guilt but avoids trial and harsher penalties.
The Justice Department said the deal ensures accountability and offers swift resolution, though critics argue it lets Boeing off too easily. Boeing and the DOJ have yet to respond to the families’ latest filing ahead of the judge’s final decision.
Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=Boeing+737, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/travel-health-security/safety/
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, reuters.com