The Department of Justice has accused Boeing of violating a settlement related to the safety issues that led to two deadly crashes of the company’s 737 Max model in 2018 and 2019. The Justice Department claims that Boeing failed to implement an ethics program to prevent and detect violations of U.S. fraud laws in its operations, as required by the settlement. This violation has allowed the government to proceed with a criminal charge accusing Boeing of conspiracy to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration. Boeing has stated that it believes it has honored the terms of the settlement and looks forward to responding to the accusations with transparency.
The families of the victims of the plane crashes have expressed relief at the Justice Department’s decision to investigate Boeing further. Many families felt that the previous administration had been too lenient on the aircraft manufacturer. They are hoping to see more accountability from Boeing and the government in holding the company responsible for the tragedies that occurred as a result of the 737 Max safety issues. A lawyer representing the families of the victims stated that they will be meeting with the government to discuss next steps in the case.
The crashes of the 737 Max 8 planes in Indonesia and Ethiopia resulted in the deaths of 346 people and led to the grounding of the entire 737 Max fleet by the Federal Aviation Administration. Investigations revealed that both crashes were caused by a malfunctioning maneuvering system designed to prevent stalls during flight. In addition to the Justice Department’s findings, Boeing also faced a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for misleading statements made about the safety of the 737 Max after the crashes.
The timing of the Justice Department’s investigation comes at a tumultuous period for Boeing. The company announced in March that its CEO, Dave Calhoun, would be stepping down at the end of the year, along with the head of the division responsible for manufacturing planes for commercial customers. Calhoun took over as CEO after the previous leader, Dennis A. Muilenburg, was fired following the 737 Max crashes. Muilenburg’s handling of the crisis had drawn criticism from lawmakers and victim’s families, leading to his dismissal from the company.
Overall, the Justice Department’s determination that Boeing violated its settlement obligations adds another layer of scrutiny to the company’s handling of the 737 Max safety issues. The families of the crash victims are hopeful that the government will continue to hold Boeing accountable for its role in the tragedies that occurred. Boeing has expressed its willingness to engage with the Justice Department and respond to the allegations with transparency. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for Boeing’s future operations and reputation within the aviation industry.
