Following two tragic 737 Max disasters that claimed numerous lives, the Department of Justice reportedly extended a plea agreement to Boeing in which the company would admit culpability on a single charge of conspiring to commit fraud against America.
The surviving relatives of those who died are said to have expressed their displeasure with Boeing’s acceptance of the plea offer, labeling it a “sweetheart deal” as well as an aberration of justice in remarks they have issued.
The Concession
Boeing has consented to enter a guilty plea on a single charge of conspiracy, according to a Department of Justice court filing.
The agreement would have forced Boeing to shell out $487 million in fines—a far cry from the $24.8 billion that the relatives of those affected were originally demanding. In addition, the deal mandates that Boeing enhance its safety and effectiveness protocols and submit to a three-year external monitor’s oversight.
DOJ Announcement
The Department of Justice justified the plea agreement by claiming that it compelled Boeing to accept the harshest punishments possible and that it obtained record-breaking contributions from the aircraft maker.
According to the DOJ, by compelling Boeing to make major expenditures to fortify and unify its regulatory and security procedures, the agreement safeguards the national interest. The department’s determination to hold Boeing responsible for its misbehavior is demonstrated by the criminal verdict.
Requesting a Trial
The relatives of those who died have been demanding that Boeing be made to appear in trial and face the worst punishments possible for their actions. The DOJ plea agreement did not satisfy these loved ones.
According to Paul Cassell, who speaks for numerous relatives of the fatal crashes from 2018 and 2019, the agreement ignores the 346 fatalities that resulted from Boeing’s deception. He claimed that the agreement is obviously contrary to the general population’s concern, calling it both lenient and dishonest.
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DOJ Demands That Justice has been Done
Although loved ones of the victims are less than happy with the resolution, the Office of Justice believes that this represents the most appropriate strategy to make certain Boeing remains accountable, particularly in light of current occurrences that have generated greater concerns about quality control.
The Department of Justice made it clear that their settlement with Boeing exclusively deals with wrongdoing that happened prior to the 737 Max crashes; it does not provide protection for other instances of commercial conduct, such as what happened with Alaska Airlines 1282.
Allowed To Face Additional Charges
The DOJ stressed in the release that relatives can still use the felony judgment to support their claims in a lawsuit and additionally stated that it has maintained the possibility available for staff members to be punished for the behavior.
The DOJ stressed that its decision only pertains to the business and does not absolve any specific workers—such as business executives—of responsibility for any actions.
Error in the justice system
A relative Zipporah Kuria, who lost her dad during the Ethiopian Airlines accident, denounced the agreement as unfair.
Kuria called the situation a “miscarriage of justice,” emphasizing that this phrase is a stretch. He said he hoped the DOJ was going to recall that they possessed the chance to do something significant but opted not to if anything similar happened later.
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Not Completed
Although it appears that Boeing as well as the DOJ have approved the sale, the tale is far from over.
Relatives of those affected have time to express in writing their disapproval of the arrangement prior to it becoming official because the accord needs to be approved by the judge.
Rapid Filing
Both sides are moving quickly to record the conditions and agreements into an official acceptance of the plea arrangement and hope to submit the paperwork with the court by July 19, 2024, at the latest. DOJ court documents state that the plea deal hopes to achieve an amicable compromise.
The loved ones of those killed have a short window of opportunity to submit an objection to the U.S. District Court in Fort Worth, Texas.
Family Records
The family lawyers representing the victims are currently making it clear that they would not be accepting the plea bargain.
The families plan to contend that the plea agreement with Boeing unjustly gives the firm advantages which comparable offenders would never have and that it absolves Boeing of responsibility for the 346 fatalities. The lucrative plea offer is based on disrespectful and misleading assumptions, in accordance with the victims’ counsel.
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Internet Response
The plea agreement did not win over many internet critics, who thought Boeing had been let free unfairly.
On X, a user asked, “So who is going to jail? There are two whole planes of dead individuals. “It is not justice to pay a fine with a golden parachute.”
Staying Out of Prison
There are others who question that anybody will be made to serve time in jail or face genuine punishment.
According to X user Kim Masters, “I assume those responsible will avoid prison.” “We’d have grounded @Boeing until the issues were fully investigated and fixed long ago if we were living in sane times,” X user Heather Haddad stated.
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