The U.S. government could prosecute Boeing over the two deadly 737 Max plane crashes. This article covers:
- What the crashes were and how many people died
- Why Boeing made a deal with the government in 2021
- How Boeing may have violated that deal recently
- Whether Boeing will face criminal charges now
Why is this a big deal? The crashes raised significant safety concerns about Boeing’s 737 Max planes.
The 737 Max Crashes
In 2018 and 2019, two Boeing 737 Max planes crashed shortly after taking off. Here are the key details:
- The first crash was in October 2018 in Indonesia. 189 people were killed.
- The second crash was in March 2019 in Ethiopia. 157 people died.
- In total, 346 lives were lost in the two tragic 737 Max crashes.
The crashes raised huge safety concerns about the design issues with the 737 Max planes. All 737 Max jets were grounded worldwide for 20 months as investigations took place.
Boeing’s 2021 Deal
In January 2021, Boeing settled with the U.S. Department of Justice. As part of the deal:
- Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion in penalties and compensation.
- Boeing had to strengthen its safety policies and procedures.
- In return, the government decided not to prosecute Boeing over the crashes.
However, the deal had strict terms Boeing had to follow for three years. If Boeing violated the terms, prosecution could be re-opened.
Possible Deal Violation
In January 2024, just before the deal expired, a Boeing 737 Max had an incident during a flight. Part of the plane’s outer covering blew open while in the air.
The U.S. Department of Justice has now accused Boeing of violating the terms of the 2021 deal because of:
- Potential safety oversight failures related to the 2024 incident
- Allegedly not following through on agreed safety procedure changes
Boeing denies violating the deal’s terms. However, the Justice Department is reconsidering whether to prosecute Boeing over the original 737 Max crashes.
Many victim families want Boeing held criminally accountable. They feel the 2021 penalties were not enough.
What’s Next for Boeing?
The U.S. government must now decide whether to pursue criminal prosecution against Boeing for the 737 Max crashes and recent safety concerns.
IBoeing could faceerious legal and financial penalties. The crashes w if prosecution moves forwardere an international tragedy that severely damaged Boeing’s reputation.
Only time will tell what path the Justice Department will take. However, the 737 Max saga remains a vital aviation safety issue that continues to develop.
Will the U.S. government hold Boeing criminally responsible or let the 2021 settlement stand? The impact on the company could be far-reaching.
