Boeing has reached a deal with the US Department of Justice to avoid prosecution over crashes involving a 737 Max plane that killed 346 people.
The agreement, outlined in a court filing this week, will see the aerospace giant pay $1.1 billion (£812 million), including a $487.2 million criminal penalty, half of which was already paid in a previous settlement.
The move has been blasted by the victims’ families’ lawyer, Sanjiv Singh, who told the BBC the deal was a ‘morally repugnant’ escape which allowed the firm to ‘sidestep true criminal accountability’.
If approved by a federal judge, the deal would protect the firm from a criminal fraud trial.
The company previously said it is ‘deeply sorry’ for their loss, adding that it remains ‘committed to honouring their loved one’s memories’ by pressing ahead with changes to the company.
The deal would also see $444.5m (£328m) in compensation to families of the crash victims.
It will also put $455m (£335m) towards improving its compliance, safety and quality programmes.
Boeing would also agree to pay a criminal penalty of $487.2m (£359.6m), although half of that was already paid in 2021.
Sanjiv Singh told the BBC the deal was a ‘morally repugnant’ escape which allowed the firm to ‘sidestep true criminal accountability’.
If approved by a federal judge, the deal would protect Boeing from a criminal fraud trial. Picture: Stock image
The two Boeing 737 Max crashes, which happened less than five months apart, claimed 346 lives and sparked global outrage.
In October 2018, Lion Air flight 610 plunged into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff from Jakarta, in Indonesia killing all 189 people on board.
Then, in March 2019, Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crashed minutes after departing Addis Ababa, resulting in the deaths of 157 passengers and crew.
Both disasters were later traced to faulty flight control systems, leading to the worldwide grounding of the 737 Max fleet for nearly two years.
Since then, many families of the victims have spent years demanding a full public trial, tougher penalties for Boeing, and the prosecution of senior company executives.
In 2021, Boeing avoided criminal prosecution by reaching a deferred prosecution agreement with the US Department of Justice, which included a $243.6m (£179m) fine.
However, prosecutors later alleged that Boeing had breached the terms of its 2021 deferred prosecution agreement by failing to put in place promised reforms to detect and prevent future violations of federal anti-fraud laws.
In response, Boeing agreed last July to plead guilty to a felony fraud charge, potentially avoiding a lengthy and high-profile public trial.
Rescuers work at the scene of an Ethiopian Airlines flight of a Boeing 737 Max 8 plane crash near Bishoftu, or Debre Zeit, south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 11, 2019, which took the lives of 157 people
This picture taken at the Tanjung Priok Jakarta port on October 30, 2018 shows Indonesian people examining debris of the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT 610 in Jakarta which killed 189
It will be the fourth meeting between the DOJ and the families, some of whom are seen here in 2019, of those who died in the two 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019
But in December, US District Judge Reed O’Connor rejected the plea deal.
He raised concerns that government and corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies could influence the selection of an independent monitor, the person responsible for overseeing Boeing’s compliance, and argued that race might become a factor in the appointment process.
A spokesperson for Boeing said: ‘Boeing is committed to complying with its obligations under this resolution, which include a substantial additional fine and commitments to further institutional improvements and investments.
‘The resolution also provides for substantial additional compensation for the families of those lost in the Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accidents.
‘We are deeply sorry for their losses, and remain committed to honouring their loved ones’ memories by pressing forward with the broad and deep changes to our company that we have made to strengthen our safety system and culture.’
MailOnline approached the US Justice Department for comment.
The firm maker has also been plagued by other incidents involving its other planes in the US.
A 256lb wheel has fallen from an airliner as it took off, crushing cars where it landed after plummeting to the ground
Last year, a wheel fell off a Boeing 777-200 shortly after takeoff in San Francisco, with the wheel falling after takeoff, crushing cars parked below after it plummeted to the ground.
The United Airlines flight 35 left San Francisco Airport on its way to Osaka in Japan and was barely off the runway when the Boeing 777-200’s wheel came off.
The plane with 235 passengers and 14 crew diverted to Los Angeles Airport after it was alerted to the landing gear failure and safely landed with no further issues and no injuries reported.
Just days before this, a 737 engine caught fire mid-flight with a heart-stopping video catching the moment the Boeing jet’s engines exploded and burst into flames in the skies above Texas, forcing an emergency landing.
The terrifying incident took place just minutes into a United Airlines flight bound for Fort Myers, Florida.
Moments later, they were forced to make an emergency landing and return to George H. Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport moments after takeoff. No injuries were reported in the incident.
