Summary
- DoJ unlikely to prosecute Boeing execs in crash cases.
- Families fail to convince DoJ of Boeing’s criminal trial.
- Deadline nears for bringing criminal charges against Boeing.
Current and former Boeing executives are unlikely to be prosecuted. The families of the victims seem to have failed to convince the Department of Justice that Boeing should face a criminal trial. It was previously reported that the Department of Justice (DoJ) was mulling reopening fraud investigations into Boeing over the twin 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019. The announcement comes as the five-year deadline for bringing criminal charges will soon lapse. Meanwhile, Boeing has released its self-laudatory 3rd annual safety report detailing its safety progress.
Boeing executive unlikely to face charges
The Washington Post reported that a meeting between family crash victims and the DoJ was tense and emotional. The families had argued that Boeing had failed to adhere to the terms of the deferred prosecution and had not learned from its mistakes. The spotlight on Boeing’s safety practices once again came under scrutiny in early 2024 after a door blew off an Alaska Airlines jet just two days before the deferred agreement was due to expire.
Photo: Wirestock Creators | Shutterstock
The DoJ has told the families of the victims of the crashes that Boeing executives are unlikely to be prosecuted. The families were informed during a meeting with the families on Friday. It has been two weeks since Boeing was deemed to have violated the terms of a deferred prosecution agreement signed in 2021.
40 family members of the 346 crash victims were present during the all-day, closed-door meeting in Washington. The Washington Post says this is likely to be “their final chance to weigh in as the Justice Department contemplates its next steps…” regarding the midair door plug blowout of the Boeing 737 MAX.
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A US Senate Subcommittee will hold a hearing about Boeing on April 17, 2024.
Boeing matter still undecided
The department has until July 7 to decide how to proceed with the Boeing case. The DoJ has several options, including extending the length of the agreement and appointing an independent monitor. It could also create a new agreement, reach a plea deal, or go to trial. Bloomberg has reported that it is unlikely that executives will face prosecution.
As part of the deferred agreement, Boeing has agreed to pay $2.5 billion in penalties, of which $500 million is earmarked for families. Justice Department officials announced in April that Boeing had not met its obligations to root out fraud in its operations. Boeing denies breaching the 2021 deferred agreement.
Photo: BlueBarronPhoto | Shutterstock
The scandal surrounding Boeing’s jets has spread beyond its once-heralded Boeing 737 MAX family. Whistleblowers have claimed Boeing’s widebody 787 Dreamliner and 777 jets have safety manufacturing issues that were potentially creating “catastrophic safety risks.” Boeing denies there are issues with its hugely popular long-haul jets. CTV News stated, “In early May, Boeing disclosed that workers at a South Carolina plant falsified inspection reports on some 787 Dreamliner jets.”