DOJ asks Boeing to plead guilty to fraud, faces trial if it doesn't
It has been revealed that the US Department of Justice is asking Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft, to admit to fraud charges in connection with the consecutive Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashes that occurred in October 2018 and March 2019. If Boeing admits, a plea bargain plan including fines, supervision, and an independent audit will be officially proposed, but some of the families of the victims who were informed of this have expressed anger, saying, 'Boeing should be properly punished.'
US wants Boeing to plead guilty to fraud, lawyers say | AP News
US to criminally charge Boeing, seek guilty plea, sources say | Reuters
The crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in October 2018 and the crash of Lion Air Flight 610 in March 2019 have one thing in common: both incidents occurred during takeoff on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Boeing had lied to government agencies about its aircraft safety assessments, and that the company agreed to a deferred prosecution agreement to avoid criminal prosecution if it met certain conditions, paying a total of $2.5 billion.
Boeing to pay more than 260 billion yen in total for 'misleading government agencies in aircraft safety evaluations' - GIGAZINE
However, the Department of Justice has determined that Boeing violated this agreement and has announced its intention to file new fraud charges in relation to the two crashes.
If Boeing were to plead guilty to fraud, the Justice Department plans to formally propose a plea deal that would include a $487.2 million fine, three years of probation, and the establishment of an independent agency to audit Boeing's safety and compliance practices.
The families of the victims were informed of the Department of Justice's policy via video conference before it was communicated to Boeing. Nadia Miran, a Massachusetts resident whose 24-year-old daughter Samia died in the Lion Air Flight 610 crash, expressed her anger to the Associated Press, saying, 'I'm outraged. Boeing should be prosecuted. This (plea deal) is just a modification to try to avoid liability for Boeing.'
The Department of Justice is said to be 'non-negotiable' on the charges and will proceed immediately to trial if Boeing does not plead guilty.
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