Boeing, the aircraft giant, has finalized a deal to plead guilty to fraud in the United States after prosecutors determined that the company violated a deferred prosecution agreement related to two fatal crashes of the 737 Max jetliner. The plea deal includes a $243.6 million fine for misleading aviation regulators about software used in the 737 Max that contributed to crashes in 2018 and 2019, resulting in 346 deaths. In addition to the fine, Boeing will invest $455 million in compliance safety programs and appoint an independent monitor while serving three years of “organizational probation.”
The agreement is pending approval from US District Judge Reed O’Connor, who will allow lawyers for families of crash victims to file objections. Boeing, in a statement, pledged to continue working transparently with regulators to enhance safety, quality, and compliance programs. The deal follows a previous agreement in which Boeing paid $2.5 billion in fines and restitution to avoid criminal prosecution but was found to have breached the terms by the Department of Justice.
Families of crash victims have voiced opposition to the plea agreement, advocating for harsher punishment for Boeing and criminal charges for current and former executives. Boeing is also under investigation for a separate incident involving an Alaska Airlines-operated Boeing 737 Max 9 that experienced a midair blowout in March. The outcome of the plea agreement remains subject to court approval as the company continues to navigate legal challenges and regulatory oversight.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com