Boeing Faces $24.8 Billion Fine and Criminal Prosecution Over 737 Max Crashes

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Written By Angela Angela

 

 

 

 

 

Families of some people who died in two Boeing 737 Max crashes want federal officials to fine Boeing $24.8 billion and prosecute the company on a criminal charge that was set aside three years ago.

A lawyer for the families wrote to the Justice Department saying a large fine is justified because Boeing’s actions are the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history.

The lawyer also said the government should prosecute officials who were leading Boeing at the time of the crashes, including then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg. A total of 346 people were killed in the crashes.

The first crash happened when a Boeing 737 Max 8 operated by Indonesia’s Lion Air crashed into the Java Sea in October 2018. The second crash occurred in March 2019, when an Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max 8 crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa.

The families are pushing for action as the Justice Department considers whether to revive a criminal charge of fraud against Boeing. Last month, prosecutors found that the company violated a 2021 settlement that protected it from being prosecuted for allegedly misleading regulators who approved the Max.

The Justice Department has until July 7 to decide whether to revive the case. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said there is “mounting evidence” that the company should be prosecuted.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company has previously said it met its obligations under the 2021 settlement.

The Justice Department began investigating Boeing after a door plug blew off a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. This incident led to increased scrutiny of the company and outgoing CEO David Calhoun, who defended Boeing’s safety record during a Senate hearing.

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