The Trump administration has chosen not to pursue felony charges against Boeing, opting instead for a potential settlement related to the crashes of two fatal 737 Max planes that resulted in the deaths of 346 individuals, as expressed by the victims’ families.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has not publicly announced this decision, and they have not responded to requests for further information.
Families of victims from the crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019 expressed concerns after a meeting with a DOJ representative, who indicated that discussions for a “tentative” agreement were in progress. They were informed that no final decision had yet been reached.
“The DOJ’s criminal division had a ‘grant session’ but didn’t follow through,” said Paul Cassel, a lawyer for several families involved. “Instead, it seemed Boeing might avoid the real consequences of their actions.”
He further stated, “I really hope that this unusual plan is cast aside by leadership in the department.”
Boeing had been negotiating a guilty plea with the DOJ ahead of a June 23 trial date concerning fraud charges related to misleading regulators about defects in the 737 Max flight system.
The families are urging the DOJ to take the case to trial, especially after a federal judge turned down a previous agreement that would have allowed Boeing to plead guilty and pay a fine.
Cassel remarked that the families would seek to challenge the latest proposal in court if it means Boeing can escape facing criminal penalties.
“Dismissing this case would tarnish the memories of the 346 victims who lost their lives due to this deception,” he noted.
Robert A. Clifford, another attorney representing victims’ families in ongoing civil lawsuits, stated that the government has a strong case that deserves to be heard in court.
“These families are ready to take the risk that the government seems hesitant to embrace to hold these individuals accountable,” he said. “We’re frustrated with this potential deal, and we plan to pursue this matter vigorously.”
According to reports, this new arrangement would spare Boeing from being labeled as a convicted felon, which could have prevented the company from pursuing government contracts with agencies like the Department of Defense or NASA.
This negotiation to potentially dismiss the criminal charges comes shortly after Boeing CEO Kelly Autoberg was seen traveling with President Trump to the Middle East, where Trump oversaw a contract signing with Qatar Airways for a significant order of aircraft.
“Get those planes out there,” Trump said after the signing. “I made the deal.”
In related news, a recent trade contract announced in the UK includes $10 billion in Boeing jet orders from the parent company of British Airways.
Boeing has not commented on the latest developments regarding the 737 Max crash case.
According to the victims’ attorney, a DOJ representative mentioned that Boeing seems to be moving away from the guilty plea but would be asked to contribute an additional $444.5 million to a fund for crash victims, which would be distributed evenly among those who lost their lives. While ongoing negotiations were indicated, Cassel described his concerns about the overall outcome, stating it appears to be a “predetermined conclusion” and not necessarily in the public’s best interest.
