Families impacted by the Boeing 737 MAX crashes of 2018 and 2019 will urge the U.S. Justice Department to pursue criminal action against the aviation giant. A recent in-flight incident reignited concerns over Boeing’s safety practices.
Relatives and legal representatives contend Boeing breached its 2021 agreement with prosecutors, necessitating criminal accountability.
The accord, crafted in the wake of the fatal crashes claiming 346 lives, aimed at a comprehensive overhaul of Boeing’s compliance framework.
The January blowout involving a Boeing 737 MAX 9 during an Alaska Airlines flight, occurring just days before the agreement’s expiration, is under scrutiny.
Justice Department officials are evaluating whether this incident violates the deferred prosecution agreement (DPA).
“We want them to think to themselves: This is too much. There has to be accountability,” emphasized Nadia Milleron, whose daughter was among the crash victims.
Family members advocate for independent monitoring to ensure Boeing’s adherence to the agreement, which notably lacks such oversight.
Boeing’s $2.5 billion settlement in 2021 encompassed compensation for victims’ families and pledged reforms in corporate conduct. However, subsequent events have raised doubts about the company’s commitment to safety.
Justice Department officials are investigating potential breaches of the 2021 deal, considering factors like felony charges or misleading authorities. They have a six-month window to decide on prosecution or pursue alternative courses of action.
Key to their deliberations are ongoing FAA investigations, particularly regarding allegations of safety negligence in Boeing’s 787 and 777 productions.
A whistleblower’s claims of sidelined safety concerns add urgency to the scrutiny, though Boeing disputes these assertions.
