Washington: The U.S. Justice Department is urging Boeing to plead guilty to a criminal charge following findings that the aircraft manufacturer violated a settlement related to the fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, which claimed the lives of 346 individuals, according to two sources familiar with the matter on Sunday.
The sources indicated that the Justice Department is expected to formally present the plea agreement to Boeing later in the day. Both Boeing and the DOJ declined to provide comments when approached for responses.
Officials from the U.S. Justice Department disclosed their decision to family members of the crash victims during a call earlier on Sunday. Under the terms of the proposed plea deal, Boeing would plead guilty to charges of conspiring to defraud the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in connection with the tragic crashes, as detailed by the sources.
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Additionally, the agreement would mandate the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee Boeing’s safety protocols and regulatory compliance for a period of three years, the sources added.
According to the sources, Justice Department officials intend to grant Boeing until the end of the week to consider the offer, which they plan to initially present as non-negotiable. In the event that Boeing declines to plead guilty, prosecutors are prepared to pursue legal action against the company, including proceeding to trial.
