FORT WORTH, Texas — Relatives of some of the 346 people killed in two crashes involving Boeing 737 Max planes are in court Friday, asking a federal judge to overturn a plea agreement reached between the aircraft manufacturer and federal prosecutors.
The family members want the government to bring Boeing to trial, where the firm might face harsher penalties.
In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with the Max’s regulatory clearance. Boeing, a major federal contractor, will pay a fine and serve a probationary period under the terms of the deal with the Justice Department.
Passengers’ relatives call it a sweetheart bargain that ignores the lives lost.
“The families who lost loved ones in the 737 Max crashes deserve far more than the inadequate, superficial deal struck between Boeing and the Department of Justice,” said Erin Applebaum, a lawyer who represents some of the families. “They deserve a transparent legal process that truly holds Boeing accountable for its actions.”
Boeing’s Lawyers Come To Court To Face Relatives Of The Passengers Who Died In Boeing Max Crashes
Lawyers for the government and the company filed court briefs defending the settlement, while attorneys for the passengers’ families stated their disagreement with the agreement. During Friday’s hearing in Fort Worth, Texas, US District Judge Reed O’Connor will have the opportunity to interview both parties.
If the court accepts the guilty plea, he must also adopt the sentence that Boeing and prosecutors agreed on; he cannot impose different conditions. It is unknown when O’Connor will rule on the subject.
Boeing has been accused of deceiving authorities by approving minimal, computer-based training for Boeing 737 pilots before they could fly the Max. Boeing tried to avoid regulators from demanding flight simulator training, which would have increased the cost for airlines to operate the plane.
The Justice Department contends that conspiracy to deceive the government is the most serious charge it can establish. Prosecutors believe they cannot show that Boeing’s conduct caused the crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019.
The agreement requires Boeing, based in Arlington, Virginia, to pay a minimum punishment of $243.6 million, invest $455 million in compliance and safety measures, and serve a three-year probation period.
The case is just one of several concerns with which the firm is currently dealing.
Boeing’s Lawyers Come To Court To Face Relatives Of The Passengers Who Died In Boeing Max Crashes
This week, negotiations fell down between striking manufacturing workers who construct some of the company’s best-selling planes. The company retracted its offer, and S&P Global Ratings added it to its credit watch list, citing elevated financial risk due to worker unrest.
On Thursday, the company filed a complaint with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, alleging unfair labor practices. Boeing complained to the National Labor Relations Board that the union’s public narrative was misleading and made reaching a resolution difficult.
SOURCE | AP
