Boeing Agrees $1.1bn Settlement Over 737 Max Crash Prosecution

Boeing has reached a tentative $1.1 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to avoid prosecution over the 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people. The deal includes $444.5 million in compensation to the victims' families, $455 million towards safety and compliance improvements, and a criminal penalty of $487.2 million, half of which was already paid in 2021. If approved by a federal judge, the company will be able to withdraw its earlier guilty plea and avoid a criminal fraud trial scheduled for June 2025. However, families of the victims have criticized the agreement as too lenient and morally repugnant, arguing it allows Boeing to sidestep true criminal accountability. The judge overseeing the case has given families a deadline to file objections, creating a tense atmosphere around the deal's final approval. The crashes, caused by faulty flight control systems, led to the grounding of the 737 Max for nearly two years and have deeply impacted Boeing's reputation and investor trust.