Families of Boeing Crash Victims Urge Rejection of Plea Deal

Families of victims from two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes demand that a U.S. judge reject Boeing's proposed plea deal, seeking a higher fine. They criticize the agreed $487 million settlement as inadequate. Boeing previously breached a deferred prosecution agreement tied to the fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.

Families for some of the 346 people killed in two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes urged a U.S. judge on Wednesday to reject the planemaker's proposed plea deal with the Justice Department, arguing that the government should seek a much higher fine. Boeing finalized an agreement on July 24 to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge and pay up to $487 million after breaching a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement.

Paul Cassell, a lawyer representing some of the families, stated in a court filing that the fine "is inadequate -- or, at the very least, rests on misleading and inaccurate accounting." He emphasized that the fine "fails to reflect that Boeing's crime killed 346 innocent victims" and called the decision "morally reprehensible." Another lawyer, Adrian Vuckovich, added that Boeing should face a substantial fine recognizing the value of each life lost and the harm caused, consistent with fines paid by other corporate defendants.

The families referenced O'Connor's comment from a February 2023 ruling, which labeled Boeing's actions as potentially the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history. Boeing and Justice Department spokespeople have yet to comment. The DOJ had earlier suggested Boeing could either accept a settlement branding it a felon or fight the charge in court. In May, the DOJ contended that Boeing breached obligations related to misrepresentations about a software feature linked to the 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019. The plea deal, which includes a maximum fine of $487.2 million, mandates an independent monitor to oversee compliance and an annual progress report.

(With inputs from agencies.)