Lawyers representing families of victims in Boeing Max jetliner crashes have urged a federal judge to reject a plea agreement between Boeing and U.S. prosecutors. They argue that the agreement is too lenient and allows Boeing to evade accountability for the deaths of 346 individuals.
The plea agreement, reached on July 7, involves Boeing pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud. This settlement resolves allegations that Boeing misled FAA regulators during the approval process of the 737 Max and violated a previous 2021 settlement that aimed to prevent criminal prosecution.
As per the terms of the deal, Boeing would pay a fine of at least $243.6 million, allocate $455 million towards compliance and safety programs, and be placed on probation for three years. A monitor selected by the Justice Department and Boeing would oversee the company's compliance.
The decision on whether to accept the plea agreement and proposed sentence lies with U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth, Texas. Should the judge reject the deal, it could lead to renegotiations between Boeing and prosecutors.
Lawyers representing families of crash victims have requested the judge to dismiss the agreement and instead schedule a jury trial within 70 days. They argue that the court, not the involved parties, should determine the appropriate sentence to ensure public confidence in the outcome.
The families' legal representatives have raised concerns about Boeing's alleged misconduct, with redacted information submitted as evidence in ongoing civil lawsuits against the aerospace company. They contend that the plea deal does not serve the public interest and attempts to compel the court to accept it without scrutiny.
Additionally, the lawyers have criticized the Justice Department for allegedly favoring Boeing due to its significant government contracts. They claim that holding Boeing and its senior management accountable for the crashes, which resulted in the deaths of 346 passengers, would pose challenges for ongoing business relationships, especially in an election year.
Furthermore, the families' legal team argues that the fine imposed on Boeing is inadequate and that the court, rather than the Justice Department, should appoint the monitor overseeing Boeing during its probation period.
Boeing has refrained from commenting on the matter, and both the company and the Justice Department have a 14-day window to respond to the families' filings.
