US, Boeing reach deal to resolve MAX criminal case
The Justice Department said Friday it reached a preliminary agreement with Boeing to settle a long-running criminal probe into deadly 737 MAX crashes, drawing condemnation from some crash victim families.
Under an 'agreement in principle,' Boeing will pay $1.1 billion and the Department of Justice (DOJ) would dismiss a criminal charge against Boeing over its conduct in the certification of the MAX, DOJ said in a federal filing.
A judge must approve the accord, which would scuttle a criminal trial scheduled for June in Fort Worth, Texas.
The agreement would resolve the case without requiring Boeing to plead guilty to fraud in the certification of the MAX, which was involved in two crashes in 2018 and 2019 that claimed 346 lives.
Family members of some MAX victims slammed the proposed settlement as a giveaway to Boeing.
'The message sent by this action to companies around the country is, don't worry about making your products safe for your customers,' said Javier de Luis in a statement released by attorneys for plaintiffs suing Boeing.
'This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in US history,' said Paul Cassell, an attorney representing relatives of victims. 'My families will object and hope to convince the court to reject it.'
But the DOJ, in its brief, cited other family members who expressed a desire for closure, quoting one who said 'the grief resurfaces every time this case is discussed in court or other forums.'
Family members of more than 110 crash victims told the government 'they either support the Agreement specifically, support the Department's efforts to resolve the case pre-trial more generally or do not oppose the agreement,' the filing said.
The DOJ filing called the accord 'a fair and just resolution that serves the public interest.'
'The Agreement guarantees further accountability and substantial benefits from Boeing immediately, while avoiding the uncertainty and litigation risk presented by proceeding to trial,' it said.
Friday's proposed agreement marks the latest development in a marathon case that came in the wake of the two crashes that tarnished Boeing's reputation and contributed to leadershipshakeups at the aviation giant.
The case dates to a January 2021 DOJ agreement with Boeing that settled charges that the company knowingly defrauded the Federal Aviation Administration during the MAX certification.
The 2021 accord included a three-year probation period. But in May 2024, the DOJ determined that Boeing had violated the 2021 accord following a number of subsequent safety lapses.
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Daily Tribune
26-05-2025
- Daily Tribune
US, Boeing reach deal to resolve MAX criminal case
The Justice Department said Friday it reached a preliminary agreement with Boeing to settle a long-running criminal probe into deadly 737 MAX crashes, drawing condemnation from some crash victim families. Under an 'agreement in principle,' Boeing will pay $1.1 billion and the Department of Justice (DOJ) would dismiss a criminal charge against Boeing over its conduct in the certification of the MAX, DOJ said in a federal filing. A judge must approve the accord, which would scuttle a criminal trial scheduled for June in Fort Worth, Texas. The agreement would resolve the case without requiring Boeing to plead guilty to fraud in the certification of the MAX, which was involved in two crashes in 2018 and 2019 that claimed 346 lives. Family members of some MAX victims slammed the proposed settlement as a giveaway to Boeing. 'The message sent by this action to companies around the country is, don't worry about making your products safe for your customers,' said Javier de Luis in a statement released by attorneys for plaintiffs suing Boeing. 'This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in US history,' said Paul Cassell, an attorney representing relatives of victims. 'My families will object and hope to convince the court to reject it.' But the DOJ, in its brief, cited other family members who expressed a desire for closure, quoting one who said 'the grief resurfaces every time this case is discussed in court or other forums.' Family members of more than 110 crash victims told the government 'they either support the Agreement specifically, support the Department's efforts to resolve the case pre-trial more generally or do not oppose the agreement,' the filing said. The DOJ filing called the accord 'a fair and just resolution that serves the public interest.' 'The Agreement guarantees further accountability and substantial benefits from Boeing immediately, while avoiding the uncertainty and litigation risk presented by proceeding to trial,' it said. Friday's proposed agreement marks the latest development in a marathon case that came in the wake of the two crashes that tarnished Boeing's reputation and contributed to leadershipshakeups at the aviation giant. The case dates to a January 2021 DOJ agreement with Boeing that settled charges that the company knowingly defrauded the Federal Aviation Administration during the MAX certification. The 2021 accord included a three-year probation period. But in May 2024, the DOJ determined that Boeing had violated the 2021 accord following a number of subsequent safety lapses.
Daily Tribune
26-05-2025
- Daily Tribune
Boeing Reaches $1.1 Billion Settlement with DOJ Over Deadly 737 Max Crashes
Boeing has agreed to a $1.1 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), allowing the aerospace giant to avoid criminal prosecution related to two catastrophic 737 Max crashes that claimed 346 lives. The agreement, revealed in court documents on Friday, stems from the 2018 Lion Air Flight 610 crash in Indonesia and the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash. The twin tragedies, both involving Boeing's 737 Max aircraft, triggered global outrage and led to a nearly two-year grounding of the jet model. According to the DOJ, the settlement resolves allegations that Boeing misled federal regulators about critical safety issues with the aircraft's flight control system before the accidents occurred. The deferred prosecution agreement means Boeing will not face a criminal trial, provided it complies with the terms laid out in the deal. Of the $1.1 billion settlement, $445 million will be allocated as compensation to the families of crash victims. The remaining funds are intended to strengthen Boeing's internal compliance, safety, and quality assurance programs. However, the agreement has sparked fierce criticism from victims' families and their legal representatives, who argue that the deal offers financial reparations without true accountability. 'This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history,' said Paul Cassell, an attorney representing several of the families. 'My clients will object and ask the court to reject it.' Cassell emphasized that for many families, public accountability through a criminal trial is more important than financial compensation. 'It is more important for Boeing to be held accountable to the flying public,' he added. Boeing has declined to comment on the settlement. In its court filings, the DOJ defended the resolution, asserting that it had carefully considered the facts, applicable legal standards, and the perspectives of affected families. Prosecutors argued that the settlement 'holds Boeing financially accountable, provides finality and compensation for the families, and makes an impact for the safety of future air travelers.' Despite years of advocacy from victims' families calling for criminal accountability for former Boeing executives, federal prosecutors maintained that the agreement represents the most just and practical resolution under the circumstances. The court will ultimately decide whether to approve the settlement. If accepted, the deal could mark a controversial close to one of the most significant corporate safety failures in aviation history.
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Etihad Airways continues fleet expansion with Boeing deal
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