US Judge Sets June 23 Trial Date for Boeing 737 Max Fraud Case

A U.S. judge has set a trial date of June 23 for Boeing in a criminal fraud case related to the company's alleged misrepresentations to regulators concerning the 737 MAX, which was implicated in two crashes that killed 346 people. This marks a significant development as Boeing had previously agreed to a plea deal that has now been rejected by the judge due to its inclusion of diversity provisions. Families of crash victims have criticized earlier plea agreements as insufficient and are calling for full prosecution, emphasizing the need for accountability. Judge Reed O'Connor has described Boeing's actions as potentially the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history. Despite ongoing negotiations for a new plea deal, O'Connor's decision to set a trial date signals a shift in the legal proceedings against the company. Boeing maintains that it is engaged in good faith discussions with the Justice Department to resolve the matter.