Latest news with #Max8
UPI
24-05-2025
- Business
- UPI
Boeing reaches $1.1 billion settlement with DOJ to avoid prosecution
Pieces of the wreckage of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft are piled at the crash site near Bishoftu, Ethiopia, on March 19, 2019. Boeing and the Justice Department have reached a deal to avoid prosecution in that crash and another involving a Max 8. File photo by EPA-EFE May 23 (UPI) -- Boeing has avoided prosecution over two crashes of 737 Max planes that killed 346 people, but must pay $1.1 billion in a settlement reached with the U.S. Justice Department. The aerospace company won't face a trial as scheduled next month, ABC News reported. Last week, DOJ officials met with crash victims' family members, many of whom want the company to go to trial, about the agreement, according to CNBC. The company, as part of the agreement, must pay $444.5 million for a new fund for crash victims. The eight-page agreement filed Friday was obtained by Flying magazine. Paul Cassell, a lawyer representing some of the families, said in a statement he hopes U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor rejects the deal. "This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history," Cassell said. "My families will object and hope to convince the court to reject it." DOJ noted relatives of more than 110 crash victims said they support the non-prosecution agreement or "support the Department's efforts to resolve the case pre-trial more generally." Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut sent a letter Friday to Attorney General Pam Bond urging her agency not to cut a deal and "to hold Boeing and any responsible executives accountable for their role in the 2018 Lion Air and the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crashes, which killed a total of 346 passengers." The DOJ said it intends to file a motion to dismiss the case once the "agreement in principle" is finalized, by no later than the end of next week. "It is the Government's judgment that the Agreement is a fair and just resolution that serves the public interest," the DOJ said in the filing in the North District of Texas in Fort Worth. "The Agreement guarantees further accountability and substantial benefits from Boeing immediately, while avoiding the uncertainty and litigation risk presented by proceeding to trial." In the agreement, Boeing "will admit to conspiracy to obstruct and impede the lawful operation of the Federal Aviation Administration Aircraft Evaluation Group. Also, the aerospace company, besides the fund for victims, must pay a $487.2 million criminal fine, though $243.6 million it already paid in an earlier agreement; $444.5 million for a new fund for crash victims; and $445 million more on compliance, safety and quality programs. On Oct. 29, 2018, the first crash in Jakarta, Indonesia, killed all 189 passengers and crew. Black box data from the Lion Air jet showed the pilots struggled to fight the plane's malfunctioning safety system from takeoff to the moment it nose-dived into the water. In the second crash four months later on March 10, 2019, 157 people died when a Ethiopian Airlines aircraft crashed minutes after takeoff in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Maxes were grounded for nearly two years after the second crash. In 2021 during the first Trump administration, Boeing agreed to a $2.51 billion fine to avoid prosecution. It was set to expire two days after a door panel blew out of a nearly new 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines on Jan. 5, 2024. The aircraft left Boeing's factory without key bolts installed. In 2024, U.S. prosecutors said Boeing violated the settlement because the company failed to set up and enforce a compliance and ethics program to detect violations of U.S. fraud laws. Then Boeing agreed to plead guilty to criminal fraud last December. O'Connor determined the government's diversity, equity and inclusion policies was a factor in the selection of an independent compliance monitor for Boeing. The company had agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay a fine of at least $243 million besides that same amount paid earlier. In 2022, a Boeing former chief technical pilot was acquitted on fraud charges tied to the Max's development.
American Military News
02-05-2025
- Business
- American Military News
Southwest Airlines to debut first plane with extra legroom seats
Southwest Airlines' first plane with extra legroom seats is planned to begin serving customers Thursday, marking an initial step as the low-fare airline prepares for a slew of changes to its fleet and customer experience. Over the rest of the year, all aircraft in Southwest's fleet will be retrofitted to accommodate the new seats with up to 5 inches of expanded legroom, the company said in a statement. Southwest's fleet of Boeing 737-800 and Max 8 aircraft will be the first to see the upgrades, with changes to Boeing 737-700 aircraft starting after summer. Other cabin upgrades, including installation of in-seat power and larger overhead storage bins, will take place alongside the retrofitting. Southwest is also revamping its ticketing options. Southwest's lowest-priced tickets, now known as Basic fares, go into effect May 28. Basic ticket holders will get assigned standard seats in the back of the plane, be last to board and must pay for checked bags. Other new options, Choice Extra, Choice Preferred and Choice, will be bookable starting in the third quarter of this year for 2026 flights. Choice Extra bookings, previously Business Select, will get two free checked bags, access to early boarding and can select seats with extra legroom. Those who make Choice Preferred bookings, formerly Anytime fares, can choose seats with standard legroom near the front of the cabin and have access to early general boarding. Fees apply for checked bags. Both options are refundable. Choice fares, previously Wanna Get Away Plus tickets, allow passengers to choose standard seats toward the back of the cabin and general boarding. Checked bag fees apply, and if ticket holders have to cancel their flight, they will be eligible for a flight credit valid for 12 months. Updating the Southwest fleet and ticketing options precedes the sale of assigned and premium seats beginning later this year, with seat assignments starting in 2026. For flights booked or ticketed on or after, May 28, checked baggage fees will apply to Southwest's Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus and Anytime fares, meaning the first two checked bags passengers bring will not be free. ___ © 2025 The Baltimore Sun. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Chicago Tribune
01-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Southwest Airlines to debut first plane with extra legroom seats
Southwest Airlines' first plane with extra legroom seats was planned to begin serving customers Thursday, marking an initial step as the low-fare airline prepares for a slew of changes to its fleet and customer experience. Over the rest of the year, all aircraft in Southwest's fleet will be retrofitted to accommodate the new seats with up to 5 inches of expanded legroom, the company said in a statement. Southwest's fleet of Boeing 737-800 and Max 8 aircraft will be the first to see the upgrades, with changes to Boeing 737-700 aircraft starting after summer. Other cabin upgrades, including installation of in-seat power and larger overhead storage bins, will take place alongside the retrofitting. Southwest is also revamping its ticketing options. Southwest's lowest-priced tickets, now known as Basic fares, go into effect May 28. Basic ticket holders will get assigned standard seats in the back of the plane, be last to board and must pay for checked bags. Other new options, Choice Extra, Choice Preferred and Choice, will be bookable starting in the third quarter of this year for 2026 flights. Choice Extra bookings, previously Business Select, will get two free checked bags, access to early boarding and can select seats with extra legroom. Those who make Choice Preferred bookings, formerly Anytime fares, can choose seats with standard legroom near the front of the cabin and have access to early general boarding. Fees apply for checked bags. Both options are refundable. Choice fares, previously Wanna Get Away Plus tickets, allow passengers to choose standard seats toward the back of the cabin and general boarding. Checked bag fees apply, and if ticket holders have to cancel their flight, they will be eligible for a flight credit valid for 12 months. Updating the Southwest fleet and ticketing options precedes the sale of assigned and premium seats beginning later this year, with seat assignments starting in 2026. For flights booked or ticketed on or after, May 28, checked baggage fees will apply to Southwest's Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus and Anytime fares, meaning the first two checked bags passengers bring will not be free.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines to debut first plane with extra legroom seats
Southwest Airlines' first plane with extra legroom seats is planned to begin serving customers Thursday, marking an initial step as the low-fare airline prepares for a slew of changes to its fleet and customer experience. Over the rest of the year, all aircraft in Southwest's fleet will be retrofitted to accommodate the new seats with up to 5 inches of expanded legroom, the company said in a statement. Southwest's fleet of Boeing 737-800 and Max 8 aircraft will be the first to see the upgrades, with changes to Boeing 737-700 aircraft starting after summer. Other cabin upgrades, including installation of in-seat power and larger overhead storage bins, will take place alongside the retrofitting. Southwest is also revamping its ticketing options. Southwest's lowest-priced tickets, now known as Basic fares, go into effect May 28. Basic ticket holders will get assigned standard seats in the back of the plane, be last to board and must pay for checked bags. Other new options, Choice Extra, Choice Preferred and Choice, will be bookable starting in the third quarter of this year for 2026 flights. Choice Extra bookings, previously Business Select, will get two free checked bags, access to early boarding and can select seats with extra legroom. Those who make Choice Preferred bookings, formerly Anytime fares, can choose seats with standard legroom near the front of the cabin and have access to early general boarding. Fees apply for checked bags. Both options are refundable. Choice fares, previously Wanna Get Away Plus tickets, allow passengers to choose standard seats toward the back of the cabin and general boarding. Checked bag fees apply, and if ticket holders have to cancel their flight, they will be eligible for a flight credit valid for 12 months. Updating the Southwest fleet and ticketing options precedes the sale of assigned and premium seats beginning later this year, with seat assignments starting in 2026. For flights booked or ticketed on or after, May 28, checked baggage fees will apply to Southwest's Basic, Wanna Get Away Plus and Anytime fares, meaning the first two checked bags passengers bring will not be free.
Chicago Tribune
10-03-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Today in History: Dr. David Gunn killed by anti-abortion activist Michael Griffin
Today is Monday, March 10, the 69th day of 2025. There are 296 days left in the year. Today in history: On March 10, 1993, Dr. David Gunn was killed outside the Pensacola Women's Medical Services clinic by anti-abortion activist Michael Griffin; it was the first killing attributed to a doctor's role in providing abortion care. Also on this date: In 1496, Christopher Columbus concluded his second visit to the Western Hemisphere as he left Hispaniola for Spain. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln assigned Ulysses S. Grant, who had just received his commission as lieutenant-general, to the command of the Armies of the United States. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell's assistant, Thomas Watson, heard Bell say over his experimental telephone: 'Mr. Watson — come here — I want to see you' from the next room of Bell's Boston laboratory; they were the first words ever conveyed by telephone. In 1913, abolitionist and Underground Railroad 'conductor' Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia in Auburn, New York. In 1959, thousands of Tibetans rebelled against occupying Chinese forces, surrounding the Dalai Lama's palace to protect him from potential harm. Fierce fighting between Tibetans and Chinese forces ensued in the following days, causing the Dalai Lama to flee Tibet for India, where he remains in exile today. In 1969, James Earl Ray pleaded guilty in Memphis, Tennessee, to assassinating civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (Ray later repudiated that plea, maintaining his innocence until his death.) In 2019, a Boeing 737 Max 8 operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed shortly after takeoff from the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board. Today's birthdays: Actor Chuck Norris is 85. Singer Dean Torrence (Jan and Dean) is 85. TV personality/business executive Barbara Corcoran (TV: 'Shark Tank') is 76. Actor Sharon Stone is 67. Actor Jasmine Guy is 63. Music producer Rick Rubin is 62. Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson is 60. Singer-songwriter Edie Brickell is 59. Actor Paget Brewster is 56. Actor Jon Hamm is 54. Rapper-producer Timbaland is 53. Actor Cristián (kris-tee-AHN') de la Fuente is 50. Actor Jeff Branson is 47. Singer Robin Thicke is 48. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Shannon Miller is 48. Actor Thomas Middleditch is 43. Country singer-songwriter Carrie Underwood is 42. Actor Olivia Wilde is 41. Actor Emily Osment is 33. Rapper-singer Bad Bunny is 31.
