Boeing and Justice Department Strike Deal to Avoid Prosecution, Because What’s a Couple of Crashes Between Friends?
In a development that has lawyers high-fiving and crash victims’ families seething, Boeing has reportedly reached a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice to avoid criminal prosecution over the two fatal 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people. The agreement, finalized last week, ensures that Boeing’s corporate personhood gets to sleep soundly at night, while the very real persons affected continue counting their losses.
The Justice Department had accused Boeing of violating a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement—essentially a corporate pinky promise to behave. Boeing broke it, but the DOJ, ever the understanding parent, decided that prosecution might be too harsh for a repeat offender with a $100 billion market cap and an affection for defective software.
Under the new deal, Boeing will reportedly pay a fine—likely a rounding error on their quarterly earnings—and submit to an independent monitor. This monitor will presumably stand in the corner and shake their head disapprovingly every time Boeing tries to quietly ship out another flying question mark.
Critics say the move sends a troubling message: accountability in corporate aviation stops just short of actual consequences. A Boeing spokesperson said the company remains “deeply sorry,” but did not clarify whether that sorrow is measured in metric or imperial units.
Meanwhile, families of victims issued statements condemning the DOJ’s decision. But as history shows, when a company’s stock price is flying high, there’s not much room left in the cabin for justice.
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