DOJ Confirms Settlement with Boeing to Avoid Prosecution Over 737 Max Fatal Accidents

Before a hearing in January 2023, family members of victims displayed a banner showcasing the photographs of those lost in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 disaster from March 2019, which occurred in Fort Worth, Texas.

WASHINGTON — On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice informed a judge that it has negotiated a preliminary agreement with Boeing, effectively ceasing any criminal proceedings related to two disastrous crashes involving 737 Max aircraft. This decision comes despite the protests from some of the victims' families.

This marks another chapter in the ongoing legal proceedings following the deadly crashes of two 737 Max flights in 2018 and 2019, which collectively caused the deaths of 346 individuals.

Initially, during the Trump administration, a deferred prosecution deal was struck between the Justice Department and Boeing. However, under President Biden's leadership, prosecutors revived the criminal case against the aviation corporation. Last year, Boeing consented to admit guilt for misleading regulatory agencies, but a federal judicial decision stalled further actions.

The Justice Department has now brokered a new agreement allowing Boeing to sidestep criminal charges once more.

According to a court submission, DOJ attorneys described the agreement as "a reasonable and equitable resolution in public interest." They argue that the arrangement "ensures Boeing's immediate accountability and renders significant benefits while circumventing the unpredictability and hazards of a trial."

Details of the recent agreement were presented during a meeting with the victims' families and their legal representatives last week. Some family members expressed their support for the settlement as per DOJ's report.

Conversely, other families expressed their disapproval of the agreement and intend to challenge it legally.