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.
What’s behind the health care fight that led to the government shutdown
It's Obamacare health insurance prices — and how much help 24 million Americans will get with their premiums — that are in dispute.
Birmingham’s Furnace Fest celebrates big milestone and new beginnings
Twenty-five years ago, Furnace Fest roared from the belly of Birmingham’s historic Sloss Furnaces for the very first time. It's revival returns this weekend.
At least two people have been killed in an attack at a U.K. synagogue
The attack took place outside a synagogue in Manchester. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack "appalling" and "all the more horrific" for taking place on Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day.
VIDEO: Trump’s tariffs, changing markets and what an uncertain economy means for you
Eight months into Trump's second term, it's unclear what the larger impact of these tariffs will have on the economy. Despite that, the president keeps promising to roll out new ones.
In Trump country, a Democrat critiques Trump — and talks of succeeding him
NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear about his cross-party appeal in a state that has always overwhelmingly voted for Trump.
Research, curriculum and grading: new data sheds light on how professors are using AI
It's not just students, more professors are using AI in the classroom. But they say more guidance is needed on how to use the technology.
