Victims families outraged as US justice system fails in Boeing 737 crash case
According to webangah News Agency, lawyers for the victims’ families revealed that Justice Department officials informed them on Friday that prosecutors are considering dropping criminal charges adn reaching a non-prosecution agreement with Boeing.
The proposed deal includes an additional $444.5 million payment to a victim compensation fund,which would be distributed equally among the families of those killed in both crashes.
the attorneys emphasized that victims’ families are outraged by this decision and plan to formally object in court. Sanjiv Singh, representing 16 victims of Lion Air Flight 610 (2018), called it “morally grotesque” and compared it to “a slap on the wrist with apparent bribery.”
Neither Boeing nor Justice Department officials commented on these allegations.
Lawyers stated they were notified this morning that Boeing now refuses its earlier guilty plea and prefers going to trial – prompting prosecutors to consider abandoning criminal charges.However, Robert Clifford, counsel for Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 (2019) victims’ families, argued this ignores overwhelming evidence against Boeing while citing dubious “legal risks.”
The two crashes (October 2018 and March 2019) killed 346 people collectively. Investigations revealed Boeing misled FAA regulators during initial certification of its troubled 737 max aircraft.
The potential case closure suggests a more lenient corporate prosecution approach under President Trump compared to Biden’s administration. In January 2021’s final days, Boeing had entered a deferred prosecution agreement - avoiding criminal liability until January 2024 when an Alaska Airlines midair door plug incident revived scrutiny.
A July settlement included $487 million in penalties (far below victims’ $24.8 billion demand) plus three years of self-reliant monitoring - terms rejected by Judge Reed O’Connor in December over improper monitor selection procedures rather than penalty severity concerns.
Clifford vowed: “We have all necessary evidence for prosecution…These families will assume risks their government won’t…We’re furious at this deal and will challenge it.” Attorneys confirmed they’ll return before Judge O’Connor if prosecutors proceed with case closure.
