Families Oppose Boeing's Plea Deal Over 737 MAX Crashes

Relatives of the victims of two fatal 737 MAX crashes urge Judge Reed O’Connor to reject Boeing's plea agreement with the Justice Department. The deal involves a guilty plea to a fraud conspiracy charge and a fine of $243.6 million. Families argue the plea deal is inadequate and misleading.

Relatives of the victims of two fatal 737 MAX crashes are urging U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor to reject a plea deal Boeing has struck with the Justice Department.

The deal, finalized late Wednesday, includes Boeing pleading guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge and paying at least $243.6 million. Families argue the plea deal is inadequate, criticizing it for an outdated and misleading statement of facts, as well as ambiguous restitution commitments.

The Justice Department said Boeing breached its 2021 deferred prosecution agreement by misrepresenting a key software feature tied to the fatal crashes. Boeing agreed to plead guilty and undergo monitoring, but families insist the judge, not DOJ, should appoint the monitor.

(With inputs from agencies.)