Boeing, an American aircraft manufacturer, is facing a deadline to admit guilt in connection with the crash of two 737 Max aircraft. The US Department of Justice is pushing for charges of fraud against Boeing, giving the company the option to plead guilty as part of a settlement or risk a trial. The crashes of the two 737 Max aircraft in 2018 and 2019 resulted in the loss of 346 lives.
Boeing has until the end of the week to make a decision on accepting the settlement, which would include a guilty plea, a fine of $243.6 million, and the acceptance of an independent supervisor. If Boeing admits guilt, it could jeopardize their status as a contractor for the American government, as government contracts make up a significant portion of the company’s revenue. This situation comes at a time when Boeing is already under pressure due to quality defects in its commercial aircraft.
In addition to the penalty that Boeing may have to pay, which would be in addition to a previous $243.6 million payment in 2021, the company is also facing backlash for violating a Deferred Prosecution Agreement related to the fatal crashes. The crashes were attributed in part to software that interfered with pilot controls, despite Boeing claiming special training for the software was unnecessary.
There is controversy surrounding the Justice Department’s proposed settlement offer, with some considering it to be insufficient given the loss of innocent lives. Boeing’s troubles have been further compounded by quality defects in its aircraft, which led to a fuselage part detaching from a 737 Max 9 aircraft during a flight. As a result, Boeing has reacquired the supplier responsible for
