US aerospace giant Boeing has announced that it has reached a settlement with the US Department of Justice over two fatal accidents involving 737 MAX airplanes. The company has formally agreed to pay the criminal fraud charges, as well as any penalties deemed appropriate by the Department.
Boeing 737 MAX crashes killed hundreds of people
The accidents in 2018 and 2019, which killed more than 300 people, were caused by problems with Boeing’s MCAS software. Boeing was alleged to have played a leading role in the accidents by failing to report this software to regulators, airlines and pilots. At this point, the company took the blame.
Under the new agreement, Boeing has agreed to pay an additional fine of $487.2 million. In addition, the company will appoint an independent monitor and invest no less than $455 million to improve its compliance/safety programs. The company will also hold a meeting with the families of the accident victims to both apologize and assess their claims for compensation.
In January 2024, Boeing was again under increased scrutiny following a door plug incident on a 737 Max aircraft. The US Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into this incident in March 2024. In addition to all this, it was announced that Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun will leave his post at the end of the year.
Boeing, which has had a very difficult time, will be subject to court supervision for three years to ensure that the security breaches do not recur. So what do you think about this issue? Do not neglect to share your opinions with us in the comments.