Boeing's Legal Turbulence: New Plea Deal Highlights Safety and Accountability Issues

Boeing is facing new legal challenges after two jetliner crashes killed 346 people. A USD 2.5 billion settlement failed to resolve safety concerns, leading to a plea deal with the Justice Department. The deal includes guilty plea to felony fraud charges and appointment of an independent monitor.

After two jetliner crashes killed 346 people, Boeing's USD 2.5 billion settlement failed to resolve questions about the safety of its planes. Federal prosecutors now accuse the company of not adhering to the 2021 settlement terms. Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to felony fraud in a new deal with the Justice Department.

This new agreement includes a USD 243.6 million fine and the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee Boeing for three years. The finalised plea and sentence will soon be filed in US District Court in Fort Worth, Texas. The monitor's role and scope will be detailed in the filing.

Families of crash victims oppose the agreement, seeking a trial and a USD 24 billion fine. The use of compliance monitors in plea deals aims to avoid indictments that could destroy large companies. Legal experts question the effectiveness of such agreements in ensuring corporate accountability.

(With inputs from agencies.)