A judge in the United States will hear objections to a settlement that would allow Boeing to avoid criminal prosecution over two fatal 737 MAX crashes.
Judge Reed O’Connor, serving in Texas, will review objections raised by the families of victims from the 2018 crash in Indonesia and the 2019 crash in Ethiopia, which together claimed 346 lives.
Details of the Agreement
Under the settlement reached with the Department of Justice, Boeing agreed to pay $444.5 million into a fund for the victims, as well as a $243.6 million fine. This brings the total obligation to $1.1 billion. The amount also includes compensation for families and $455 million allocated to strengthening the company’s safety and quality programs.
Previously, Boeing had been accused of misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 MAX flight control system. After a 2024 emergency involving a MAX 9, the case resurfaced, leading to the path toward a settlement.
Families’ Objections
Paul Cassell, an attorney representing the victims’ families, said: “This unjust agreement is contrary to the public interest. The judge should reject it.” Families argue that dropping the charges does not serve the public good.
Judge O’Connor had earlier described Boeing’s offense as “the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history.”
Boeing’s Position
The company argues that the decision to initiate or pursue prosecution lies solely with the executive branch, and is asking for the families’ objections to be dismissed.
The U.S. Department of Justice, meanwhile, notes that many of the families have already resolved their multi-billion-dollar claims against Boeing through civil settlements.
