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3mo ago

Justice Department Seeks Dismissal of Boeing 737 MAX Fraud Charge After $1.1 Billion Deal

Victims’ families say the non-prosecution agreement is unprecedented, urging Judge O’Connor to reject the deal

The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is displayed at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 20, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra/File Photo
A mourner lays flowers at the Memorial Arch during a visit to the crash site of Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max flight that crashed on March 14, 2019.
FILE - The Boeing logo is displayed at the company's factory, Sept. 24, 2024, in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)
Chris Moore holds a photo of his daughter Danielle Moore, who died in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302, during a US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations hearing.

Overview

  • The DOJ filed a motion in Fort Worth asking U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor to dismiss Boeing’s criminal fraud charge and cancel the upcoming trial over two deadly 737 MAX crashes.
  • Under the settlement, Boeing must pay a $243.6 million criminal fine, direct $445 million into a fund for crash victims’ families and invest $455 million in safety, compliance and quality-control programs.
  • Rather than appointing a federal monitor, the agreement requires Boeing to retain an independent compliance consultant to oversee reforms and report back to the Justice Department.
  • Attorneys representing 346 victims’ families have branded the non-prosecution agreement “unprecedented” and will file objections to persuade the court to reject Boeing’s deal.
  • Judge O’Connor has ordered the parties to submit briefing schedules by June 4 before ruling on whether to accept the non-prosecution pact and dismiss the charge.