Boeing admits to fraud over 737 Max jet crashes and more

Boeing admits to fraud over 737 Max jet crashes

Boeing is poised to plead guilty to fraud over its 737 Max jets, implicated in crashes that killed 346 people in Indonesia and Ethiopia. The aerospace giant opted for a plea deal and a $487.2 million fine to avoid a lengthy trial on the felony criminal charge of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Prosecutors accused the American aerospace giant of lying to regulators who approved the airplane and the pilot-training requirements to safely fly it.

However, families of crash victims are challenging the agreement, criticizing it as lenient and demanding a trial with substantial penalties and executive accountability. Along with a fine, the deal mandates that Boeing invest $455 million in safety improvements while under probation for three years. The plea’s acceptance hinges on a forthcoming hearing in Texas. (See “Here’s what to know about Boeing agreeing to plead guilty to fraud in 737 Max crashes,” by David Koenig and Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press, July 9, 2024.)