The Justice Department informed families of some of the 346 victims from the 2018 and 2019 crashes about the plea deal during a video meeting…reports Asian Lite News
The US Justice Department is set to propose that Boeing plead guilty to fraud related to two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max jetliners, media reported.
Boeing has until the end of the coming week to accept or reject the plea offer, which includes appointing an independent monitor to ensure compliance with anti-fraud laws, according to Associated Press.
The Justice Department informed families of some of the 346 victims from the 2018 and 2019 crashes about the plea deal during a video meeting.
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Mark Lindquist, a lawyer representing some of the families suing Boeing, confirmed this along with another person who attended the call with prosecutors.
If Boeing rejects the plea offer, the Justice Department intends to pursue a trial, AP reported.
Meanwhile, Boeing has reportedly declined to comment on the matter.
This development follows recent statements from prosecutors to a federal judge, alleging that Boeing violated a January 2021 agreement that had shielded the company from criminal prosecution over the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.
A conviction could potentially jeopardize Boeing’s status as a federal contractor, posing risks to its substantial contracts with the Pentagon and NASA.
On January 5, a panel blew off a new Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet during an Alaska Airlines flight, just two days before a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department expired.
This agreement had protected Boeing from prosecution over the 2018 and 2019 crashes. Boeing insists it “honoured the terms” of the settlement and disagrees with the claim that it violated the agreement, according to Reuters report.
The proposed new agreement includes a $487.2 million financial penalty, with Boeing required to pay only half, as the company is credited for a prior payment related to the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes. This penalty is the maximum allowed by law for the charge, Reuters reported.
Under the proposal, Boeing could also be required to pay restitution, the amount of which would be determined by a judge. The deal includes three years of probation for Boeing and mandates that the company’s board meet with victims’ families, it was reported.
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