Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge and pay a $243.6 million fine. This decision follows a U.S. investigation finding that the company violated a reform deal after two fatal 737 Max crashes.
The crashes, in 2018 and 2019, involved 737 Max planes and resulted in the deaths of 346 passengers and crew. These incidents led to the global grounding of the 737 Max for over a year.
Families of the victims have criticized the plea deal, describing it as a "sweetheart deal" that allows Boeing to avoid full responsibility. They have been advocating for a criminal trial to hold the company accountable.
In 2021, Boeing was charged with conspiracy to defraud regulators by deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about the MCAS flight control system. Boeing agreed to a deal to avoid prosecution by paying penalties and undergoing increased monitoring for three years.
In January, a door panel incident on an Alaska Airlines Boeing plane intensified scrutiny on Boeing's safety improvements. This led the Department of Justice (DoJ) to find Boeing in violation of its agreement.
Boeing's guilty plea marks a significant blemish on its record. As a prominent military contractor and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of commercial jets, the company now has a criminal record, potentially affecting its government contracts.
Despite the guilty plea, the DoJ's approach and the $243.6 million fine have been criticized by victims' families and legal experts. Some argue that the penalty is insufficient and fails to hold individuals accountable.
Boeing has faced multiple penalties since 2015 for improper manufacturing and other issues. The company continues to deal with investigations and lawsuits related to the January Alaska Airlines incident and ongoing scrutiny of its safety practices.
Sunita Williams, a NASA astronaut, is currently stuck on International Space Station (ISS) due to technical issues in Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Williams, known for her extensive experience in space, is facing an extended stay as the spacecraft undergoes necessary evaluations and updates. This delay has postponed her return to Earth by about one month, as NASA and Boeing race to resolve the issues and ensure a safe journey back.