The Justice Department’s Proposal to Boeing in 737 Max Case

The Justice Department has put forth a proposition to Boeing regarding the 737 Max case, offering the aircraft manufacturer a path to avoid a criminal trial. The proposal entails Boeing pleading guilty to a fraud charge related to the two fatal crashes of its 737 Max planes that occurred over five years ago.

Key Details of the Proposal:

• Fine: Boeing would face a fine of nearly $244 million as part of the agreement.
• Safety Improvements: The company would need to make a new investment in safety enhancements.
• External Monitoring: Boeing would be under scrutiny by an external monitor for a period of three years.
• Board Meeting: A meeting between Boeing’s board and the families of the crash victims is included in the terms.

Two lawyers representing families of the crash victims, Paul G. Cassell and Mark Lindquist, revealed that federal officials discussed the offer with the families before presenting it to Boeing. Mr. Cassell, who represents more than a dozen families, expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed deal, referring to it as a “sweetheart plea deal” that does not require Boeing to admit fault for the deaths of the 346 individuals who perished in the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in late 2018 and early 2019.

While the Justice Department has not provided an immediate response to inquiries, Boeing has chosen to refrain from commenting on the matter at this time. Mr. Cassell emphasized the families’ objection to the proposed plea deal, stating that the memory of the victims warrants a greater sense of justice than what the offer currently provides.