US Considers Criminal Prosecution: The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is weighing the possibility of prosecuting Boeing in connection with two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max airplanes. The DOJ stated that Boeing violated the terms of a 2021 agreement that shielded the company from criminal charges related to the incidents.
These crashes, which occurred in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019, resulted in the tragic deaths of 346 individuals. According to the DOJ, Boeing’s failure to establish and enforce a compliance and ethics program to prevent and identify violations of US fraud laws across its operations contributed to the breaches.
Boeing, however, refutes the claim that it breached the agreement and asserts that it upheld its terms. The company expressed its readiness to address the allegations put forth by the Justice Department.
As part of the settlement reached earlier, Boeing paid a substantial fine of $2.5 billion (£1.98 billion), and prosecutors agreed to seek the dismissal of a criminal charge after three years.
The DOJ has given Boeing until June 13 to respond to the accusations, stating that its response will factor into its decision-making process.
Families of the crash victims have been advocating for legal action against Boeing, viewing the DOJ’s consideration of prosecution as a positive development. Paul G. Cassell, a lawyer representing the families, emphasized the need for further accountability from Boeing.
Boeing’s aircraft safety has remained under intense scrutiny, with a recent incident involving an unused door detaching from a new 737 Max shortly after takeoff in January, resulting in significant damage to the aircraft.
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