Federal officials have issued a warning to Boeing regarding potential criminal charges. This comes after the airline failed to make sufficient improvements to plane safety and neglected to comply with a settlement agreement following the tragic crashes involving the 737 aircraft.
Five years ago, Boeing made a settlement of $2.5 billion and committed to implementing safety enhancements. This agreement came after the occurrence of two tragic incidents involving the 737 Max jets. In 2018, one of the planes crashed in Indonesia, and in 2019, another crash occurred in Ethiopia. These devastating accidents resulted in the loss of 346 lives within a span of five months.
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The federal authorities are now accusing Boeing of breaching the agreement and warn that the company may face additional legal action. This comes in the wake of a series of notable safety incidents involving Boeing planes, including an incident in mid-January where the door plug of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 suddenly blew off, leading to the grounding of all 171 MAX 9 jets by the FAA for investigation purposes.
The Department of Justice lawyers have written a letter to a federal judge, stating that Boeing could face prosecution by the United States for any federal criminal violation that the United States is aware of. This comes as a result of Boeing’s failure to fully fulfill the terms and obligations under the deferred prosecution agreement.
The possibility of Boeing facing prosecution is now uncertain, and it remains unclear if the government will proceed with legal action against the company.
According to The Associated Press, the Justice Department stated in a court filing that the government is currently deciding on the course of action in this matter.
Boeing has been given a deadline of 13 June to respond to the government’s accusation. The justice department has stated that it will take into consideration the company’s explanation when deciding whether to pursue prosecution.
Boeing’s spokesperson assured that they will maintain a high level of transparency while engaging with the Department. This commitment to transparency has been upheld throughout the duration of the agreement, even during the investigation of the Alaska Airlines 1282 accident. The spokesperson shared this information with The Independent.
In 2018, a tragic incident occurred when a Lion Air flight from Indonesia crashed into the Java Sea, resulting in the loss of 189 lives. Shockingly, this devastating event was followed by another tragedy just five months later. An Ethiopian Airlines flight took off from Addis Ababa, but tragically crashed only six minutes later, just 30 miles away from the airport. All 157 people on board lost their lives in this heartbreaking incident.
During the investigation of the disaster crashes, authorities identified a flight-control system that Boeing had installed on the Max without informing pilots or airlines. This system was not redesigned by Boeing until after the second crash.
After engaging in a series of negotiations, the government has reached an agreement wherein Boeing will not face prosecution for defrauding the United States by misleading regulators about the flight system. As part of the settlement, Boeing will pay a fine of $243.6 million. Additionally, a $500 million fund will be established to compensate the victims, and airlines whose Max jets were grounded for almost two years will receive nearly $1.8 billion.
According to Paul Cassell, an attorney representing families of the passengers involved in the Ethiopia crash, the assertion made by the Justice Department that Boeing violated the terms of the settlement is a significant and long-awaited development for the families.
“We expect the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take additional measures to ensure that Boeing is held responsible,” Mr. Cassell emphasized in an interview with The Associated Press. He further stated that during our meeting on May 31, we will elaborate on the specific actions we believe would serve as an appropriate remedy for Boeing’s continued involvement in unlawful activities.”
The spotlight once again shone on the agreement following a series of safety incidents involving Boeing planes in recent months. One particularly notable incident involved a door plug blowing out at 16,000 feet on an Alaska Airlines flight. This event prompted a federal investigation into the incident and into Boeing.
Former employees and individuals who exposed the company’s practices have alleged that the company deliberately undermined the quality of its manufacturing and the skill level of its employees in order to prioritize immediate financial gains for shareholders.
