Silke Mayr A US judge has rejected Boeing’s plea deal related to two fatal crashes of its 737 Max planes. The agreement, reached in July, included pleading guilty to one count of criminal fraud, paying a $243 million fine, and undergoing independent monitoring. However, Judge Reed O’Connor ruled the deal undermined the court’s authority and contained “contradictory” diversity requirements for selecting the monitor.
Families Welcome Ruling
The families of the 346 victims described the rejected deal as a “get-out-of-jail-free card for Boeing.” They argued the agreement failed to hold the company accountable for the deaths. Ike and Susan Riffel, who lost their two sons, said the judge “did the right thing.”
Judge O’Connor criticized the deal for not requiring Boeing to follow the monitor’s recommendations and allowing the company to influence the monitor’s selection. He also questioned the deal’s diversity-focused hiring requirements, stating they could erode public trust in the process.
“The public must have confidence that the monitor is selected based solely on competency,” he wrote. The Department of Justice is reviewing the ruling, while Boeing has yet to comment.
Boeing Faces Renewed Scrutiny
Boeing and the Department of Justice have 30 days to propose a revised agreement. The company has struggled to recover from the crashes in 2018 and 2019, which exposed flaws in its flight control system.
Earlier this year, Boeing faced another safety scare when a door panel on a new plane detached mid-flight. This incident reignited concerns about its safety and quality practices, especially as a three-year monitoring period neared its end.
The 2021 plea deal, tied to misleading regulators about the flight control system, has also faced scrutiny. In May, the Justice Department accused Boeing of violating the deal’s terms, opening the door to prosecution. Families of the victims had hoped for a trial, but a new agreement was reached instead.
Judge O’Connor stated it was unclear what Boeing had done to breach the 2021 deal but said the government’s oversight efforts had “failed.”
Victims’ families and their representatives view the judge’s ruling as a victory. Erin Appelbaum, an attorney for some families, called it a significant step toward real accountability.
“It’s time for the Department of Justice to demand accountability commensurate with Boeing’s crimes,” she said.