Boeing's $1.1B deal with the DOJ over 737 Max crashes called morally repugnant by victims' families' lawyer, avoiding criminal prosecution for 346 deaths.
The US Justice Department has reached a settlement with Boeing regarding two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max aircraft in 2018 and 2019. The agreement, which includes financial penalties and safety commitments, has drawn sharp criticism from legal representatives of the victims' families.
Under the terms of the deal, Boeing will pay a total of $1.1 billion to resolve potential criminal charges. This includes $444.5 million allocated to the families of those who perished in the crashes, $455 million for enhancing compliance and safety programs, and a $487.2 million criminal penalty—half of which was previously paid in 2021.
Sanjiv Singh, an attorney representing families of victims from the 2018 Lion Air crash, described the settlement as "morally repugnant" and argued that it allows Boeing to avoid full accountability.
"This agreement effectively treats a catastrophic failure of corporate responsibility as little more than a minor infraction,"
he stated.
Boeing, in response, reiterated its remorse over the tragedies.
"We remain deeply sorry for these losses and are committed to honoring the memories of those affected through meaningful changes to our operations,"
a company spokesperson said.
The crashes—occurring in Indonesia in October 2018 and Ethiopia in March 2019—claimed 346 lives. Investigations traced both incidents to flaws in the aircraft's flight control systems. In 2021, Boeing admitted to misleading regulators about these critical safety issues as part of an earlier settlement.
If approved by a federal judge, the latest agreement would preclude further criminal prosecution of Boeing. However, victims' families retain the right to challenge the terms during judicial review.
Critics, including Singh, contend that the financial penalties are disproportionately low relative to Boeing's revenue. "For a corporation of this scale, the settlement amounts to little more than a symbolic gesture," he remarked, emphasizing his clients' dissatisfaction with the outcome.
