Recent reports suggest that the US government is considering a “sweetheart plea deal” for Boeing in the aftermath of two deadly crashes involving the Boeing 737 Max aircraft. The proposed deal includes a small fine, three years of probation, and independent safety audits, sparking outrage among the families of the 346 victims.
Paul Cassell, a lawyer for the victims, revealed that the Justice Department may offer this lenient deal to Boeing, despite prosecutors recommending criminal charges against the company for violating a previous settlement. The crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019, respectively, were attributed to faulty flight control systems.
Families of the victims have been seeking justice, calling for the prosecution of Boeing executives and a substantial fine for the “deadliest corporate crime in US history.” The Justice Department has until 7 July to decide whether to revive a criminal charge against Boeing for breaching the 2021 settlement by failing to enforce an ethics program.
This potential plea deal has reignited the debate over corporate accountability and the need for stricter safety regulations in the aviation industry.