The Justice Department says Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two deadly crashes of 737 Max jetliners.
DAVID KOENIG and ALANNA DURKIN RICHERBoeing will plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two deadly crashes of 737 Max jetliners after the government determined the company violated an agreement that had protected it from prosecution for more than three years, the Justice Department said Sunday night.
The plea deal, which still must receive the approval of a federal judge to take effect, calls for Boeing to pay an additional $243.6 million fine. That was the same amount it paid under the 2021 settlement that the Justice Department said the company breached. An independent monitor would be named to oversee Boeing's safety and quality procedures for three years.
The company's guilty plea will be entered in U.S. District Court in Texas. The judge overseeing the case, who has criticized what he called "Boeing's egregious criminal conduct," could accept the plea and the sentence that prosecutors offered with it or he could reject the agreement, likely leading to new negotiations between the Justice Department and Boeing.
The Justice Department charged Boeing in 2021 with deceiving FAA regulators about the software, which did not exist in older 737s, and about how much training pilots would need to fly the plane safely. The department agreed not to prosecute Boeing at the time, however, if the company paid a $2.5 billion settlement, including the $243.6 million fine, and took steps to comply with anti-fraud laws for three years.
That changed in January, when a panel covering an unused emergency exit blew off a Max during the Alaska Airlines flight over Oregon.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Justice Department pushes Boeing to plead guilty in 737 Max crash caseThe Justice Department says if Boeing refused to plead guilty in connection with two fatal crashes that killed 346 people, they will take the case to trail.
Read more »
Prosecutors are recommending the Justice Department charge Boeing over 737 Max crashesBoeing could face criminal charges in connection with two fatal crashes that killed 346 people after failing to meet the terms of a 2021 agreement with prosecutors.
Read more »
Prosecutors urge Justice Department to file criminal charges against Boeing over 737 MaxProsecutors are urging the US Justice Department to file criminal charges against Boeing for safety issues surrounding its 737 Max, although top Justice Department officials haven’t made a final decision, a source familiar with the development tells CNN.
Read more »
Boeing to plead guilty to criminal fraud charges over 737 Max crashes, Justice Department saysBoeing will plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two deadly crashes of 737 Max jetliners after the government determined the company violated…
Read more »
Justice Department to Criminally Charge Boeing for Breaching 737 Max Settlement: ReportsThe DOJ intends to offer Boeing a plea deal, which may include a $243.6 million criminal fine, per Bloomberg
Read more »
Boeing 737 MAX crash victim families ask judge to name corporate monitorBoeing 737 MAX crash victim families ask judge to name corporate monitor
Read more »