US DoJ Ends Bombardier Bribery Probe Over Garuda Deal

The United States Department of Justice has officially closed its investigation into Bombardier Aerospace’s sale of CRJ1000ER aircraft to Garuda Indonesia. The probe, which began in early 2020, examined possible corruption related to the airline’s acquisition of 18 regional jets between 2012 and 2015.

According to a Toronto Stock Exchange filing on May 1, 2025, Bombardier received notice from the DOJ on April 1 confirming the investigation had been concluded without charges. The DOJ also closed a separate probe into Bombardier’s railway equipment deal in Azerbaijan. No directors, officers, or employees were charged in connection with either matter.

The CRJ1000ER sales were part of a broader corruption scandal that led to multiple convictions in Indonesia, including that of a former Garuda CEO. The scandal also implicated other major aerospace firms, such as Airbus and Rolls-Royce, in similar misconduct tied to aircraft procurement.

Bombardier noted in the filing that it launched an internal investigation into the Garuda transactions, which is reportedly still ongoing. The company did not issue a public statement or respond to requests for comment.

This development comes amid a series of recent decisions by U.S. authorities to close or settle high-profile aviation cases. These include the dismissal of a Department of Transportation lawsuit against Southwest Airlines over chronic delays, and a likely settlement in the DOJ’s case against Boeing related to the 737 MAX crashes.

The DOJ’s closure of the Bombardier probe removes a major legal cloud for the Canadian manufacturer as it continues to reshape its business strategy.

Related News: https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/

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