DOJ confirms it has a deal with Boeing to drop prosecution over deadly 737 Max crashes

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice told a federal judge on Friday that it reached an agreement in principle with Boeing to drop criminal charges over two fatal crashes of 737 Max jets, despite objections from family members of some crash victims.

It’s the latest turn in a long-running legal saga following the fatal crashes of two 737 Max jets, in 2018 and 2019, that killed 346 people.

The Justice Department reached a deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing during the first Trump administration. But prosecutors changed course under President Biden, reviving the criminal case against the aerospace giant. Boeing agreed last year to plead guilty to defrauding regulators, but a federal judge rejected that proposed plea deal.

Now the Justice Department has reached another agreement that would allow Boeing to avoid criminal prosecution.

In a court filing, DOJ lawyers called the agreement “a fair and just resolution that serves the public.” The deal “guarantees further accountability and substantial benefits from Boeing immediately, while avoiding the uncertainty and litigation risk presented by proceeding to trial,” they wrote.

The DOJ said it laid out the terms of the latest deal in a meeting with family members of the victims and their lawyers last week. Some of those family members supported the deal, according to the DOJ filing.

But other family members said they’re outraged by the agreement and that they plan to fight it in court.

 

From Madagascar to Morocco: Gen Z protests shake Africa

Gen Z-led protests in two diverse African countries highlight frustration over years of poor governance. Fueled by social media, these youth movements are demanding accountability.

How rising costs are changing the way Americans travel

Rising costs are causing a lot of Americans to think twice before booking a trip. And many who do travel are scaling back their ambitions and staying closer to home.

Volunteering at ‘Maine Needs’ brings connection to community

Lee Cooper finds purpose and a sense of community in his volunteer job at Maine Needs, a group that provides clothing for people in need.

What Mississippi’s infant mortality crisis says about the risks of Medicaid cuts

Mississippi recently declared a public health emergency because its infant mortality rate has surged. And with Medicaid cuts coming, experts fear the crisis may worsen in other states.

Want fewer morning aches? You might have to change the way you sleep

Whether you're a back, side or stomach sleeper, medical professionals explain how to position your body to guard against neck cricks, shoulder aches and other body pain and soreness.  

Furloughs, closures and mass firings threats: What’s next in the shutdown fight

On the first day of the government shutdown, Republicans and Democrats traded blame while a small bipartisan group of senators began to negotiate.

More Front Page Coverage