US to bring criminal charges against Boeing

The US Justice Department is expected to offer Boeing a plea deal that includes a financial penalty and the appointment of an independent monitor to review the company's safety and compliance for three years.

Boeing has until the end of this week to respond to the offer. If the company refuses to plead guilty, prosecutors will take Boeing to trial.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun at an event in Washington, U.S. June 18, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

The decision came after investigators found Boeing violated a 2021 agreement that protected it from prosecution in connection with crashes of its 737 MAX aircraft in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.

The Justice Department asked Boeing to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

If it pleads guilty, Boeing could face difficulty in winning government contracts, including military contracts.

The proposed plea deal includes a $487.2 million fine, but Boeing will only have to pay half of that because it has already paid a portion under a previous agreement. Boeing may also have to pay restitution to victims, as determined by the court, and undergo three years of supervision. Boeing’s board of directors will also have to meet with victims’ families.

The victims' families expressed outrage and said the settlement did not go far enough to hold Boeing accountable. They will challenge the settlement in court.

The US Justice Department changed its approach after coming under fire for the 2021 settlement. Lawyers for the victims’ families have called on the Justice Department to prosecute Boeing and impose fines of up to $24.78 billion. Boeing had previously paid $2.5 billion under the 2021 settlement, but breaching that agreement has led to the prosecution again.

Hong Hanh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/my-se-buoc-toi-hinh-su-doi-voi-boeing-post301883.html