Family members of the victims from the Boeing 737 MAX crashes are challenging a proposed plea deal between Boeing and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The plea agreement involves Boeing accepting a guilty plea to a felony charge of conspiracy to defraud the federal government. As part of the agreement, Boeing would pay a fine of over $243 million and invest $455 million into compliance and safety programs, with oversight from an independent monitor for three years, according to npr.org.
The families, however, are dissatisfied with the terms and have publicly objected, arguing that the penalties do not match the gravity of the 346 deaths involved. They are pressing for more substantial financial penalties and want executives held personally accountable for the crashes. In response, they have taken their objections to federal court in Texas, hoping to see the plea deal revoked and seeking a jury trial, as reported by bnnbloomberg.ca.
In light of these objections, a U.S. District Judge has set a trial date for June 23, 2025, to hear the felony case against Boeing. Meanwhile, Boeing is in discussions with the DOJ to potentially revise the plea deal, aiming for a swift resolution of the case. This ongoing legal battle and negotiation underline the continued struggle for accountability and justice years after the tragic crashes, according to Reuters.