The U.S. Justice Department has made a new deal with Boeing that would stop a criminal trial over two deadly 737 Max crashes. These crashes happened in 2018 and 2019 and killed 346 people. The new agreement would let Boeing avoid a fraud conviction by paying over $1.1 billion. Another $445 million would go to the families of those who died.
The crashes took place in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Families of the victims say the deal is not enough. Many wanted a full trial and for top Boeing leaders to be held responsible. They believe Boeing should face tougher punishment for what they call one of the worst corporate crimes in U.S. history.
“This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong,” said Paul Cassell, a lawyer for the families. He said they will go to court to try and stop the deal. Families feel that just paying money is not justice. They want real change and accountability.
The original problem started with a software system called MCAS. Boeing added it to the 737 Max jets but did not tell pilots or the FAA. The system could push the plane’s nose down by itself. This happened during both crashes. Pilots were not trained on how to deal with the system. Boeing was first charged with fraud in 2021.
Back then, Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion and promised to fix things. But later, the Justice Department said Boeing did not keep its promises. That led to this new deal in 2025.
Some government officials say the new deal is fair. They believe it makes Boeing pay a high price and helps the families move on. They also say it could lead to better airplane safety.
But not everyone agrees. A federal judge had already rejected a similar deal in 2023. The judge said Boeing’s plan to pick a safety monitor was not fair and lacked openness. The new deal still faces questions about whether it truly helps the families and the flying public.
There’s another reason this deal matters. If Boeing were found guilty of fraud, it could lose its right to do business with the U.S. government. That would hurt the company a lot. With this agreement, Boeing keeps its contracts, which include military and space projects.
Still, many people are angry. They believe the deal lets Boeing escape real punishment. They say it shows big companies can avoid real justice.
Experts in aviation say trust in Boeing is still low. Other countries, like those in Europe, are also watching closely. They want to see if Boeing will improve how it builds and tests planes.
Families of the victims are not giving up. They want Boeing to tell the full truth and to be held responsible in court. Some have also asked for Congress to look into the deal.