Boeing Agrees to $487 Million Plea Deal Over 737 Fraud Charges

Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to defrauding the US government for the two 737-MAX crashes that killed 346 passengers in 2018 and 2019 after it was reopened following several emergency landings earlier this year.

If approved, the deal would require Boeing to pay a $487.2 million fine in addition to a mandatory $455 million investment toward improving its safety compliance for the next three years.

The plea deal was first reported by The New York Times.

Boeing has previously struck a similar deal with the Department of Justice in 2021 following investigations over the two fatal air crashes it agreed to pay $2.5 billion.

Included in the settlement agreement is a promise for Boeing to improve its safety compliance and manufacturing processes to prevent similar disasters in the future.

This vow came into question earlier in January after a Boeing 737 MAX-9 had to make an emergency landing shortly after

Several similar incidents were later reported in many countries, prompting the Federal Aviation Agency to conduct a safety probe on the aircraft.

The result was "dozens of problems" in the planes' manufacturing process, including several compliance issues in the "approved manufacturing processes."

Boeing has declined to comment to the NY Times regarding the new plea deal.

Boeing 737 Crash Victims Bash Boeing, DOJ for 'Sweetheart Deal'

While Boeing might be posing to reach a light penalty from the DOJ, the victims' families demand accountability on Boeing's part rather than just receiving what they called a "sweetheart deal."

Legal representatives of the families of the 2018 and 2019 air crashes have repeatedly urged the Justice Department to continue with its criminal charges, ensuring that the case goes to trial.

Paul Cassell, a lawyer representing at least dozens of the families, said the deal would mean that the "deadly consequences of Boeing's crime are being hidden."

Families of the victims vowed to object to the plea deal to make Boeing "accountable" for the 346 deaths it has caused.

Safety, Manufacturing Quality Concerns Continue to Haunt Boeing

Even with the 737 plane fiasco nearing its conclusion, safety and workplace issues continue to haunt Boeing over similar controversies surrounding its other models.

Several whistleblowers, two of which died shortly after testifying, exposed several safety issues in the company's 787 and 777 Dreamliners to the point that it could "break apart" mid-flight after only several trips.

Boeing even later admitted several employees may have "falsified aircraft records," prompting another FAA investigation into the issue.

The FAA has previously suspended manufacturing several Boeing aircraft until the company has shown "full compliance with required quality control procedures."