Families Urge Judge to Reject Boeing Plea Deal

Lawyers representing families of victims of the Boeing Max crashes urged a federal judge on Wednesday to decline a plea deal between Boeing and prosecutors. They argued the agreement is overly lenient and fails to hold Boeing accountable for the 346 lives lost.

The deal, struck in July, would see Boeing plead guilty to a single fraud charge. This follows allegations of misleading regulators about the 737 Max, flouting a 2021 settlement. If approved, the company would pay at least $243.6 million in fines, allocate $455 million toward compliance and safety measures, and undergo a three-year probation period with a monitor selected by Boeing and the Justice Department.

Critics claim the Justice Department is being lenient due to Boeing's status as a key US government contractor. The opposition desires a trial, arguing that the agreement allows Boeing to evade full responsibility for the crashes. US District Judge Reed O'Connor of Fort Worth, Texas, has the authority to approve or reject the plea deal. If declined, it could result in new negotiations between Boeing and prosecutors. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)