A federal judge in Texas has dismissed a criminal conspiracy charge against Boeing in connection with two deadly 737 Max crashes that claimed 346 lives. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor approved the Justice Department’s request to end the case as part of a settlement requiring the aircraft manufacturer to pay or invest an additional $1.1 billion in fines, compensation to victims’ families, and improvements to internal safety and quality procedures.
The ruling follows a September hearing during which relatives of the crash victims urged the court to reject the agreement and appoint a special prosecutor. Among them, Catherine Berthet, who traveled from France, implored the judge to take the case to trial. “Do not allow Boeing to buy its freedom,” she emphasized. Her daughter, Camille Geoffroy, died in the crash of a 737 Max shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The crashes involved Lion Air Flight 610 off Indonesia and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. In both incidents, a flight-control system repeatedly pushed the planes’ noses downward based on faulty sensor readings. Pilots were unable to regain control, leading to the tragic deaths of all passengers and crew. Following the Ethiopian crash, Max aircraft were grounded worldwide for 20 months while Boeing redesigned the software.
Investigators determined that Boeing failed to inform key Federal Aviation Administration personnel about changes made to the system before regulators certified the aircraft and set pilot training requirements. Prosecutors alleged that the company had misled government regulators, contributing to the fatal outcomes.
The Justice Department argued that resolving the case through the settlement better served the public interest than pursuing a trial, which could have resulted in a jury verdict limiting further penalties. Of the families involved, 110 either supported settling the case or did not oppose it. Nonetheless, nearly 100 families voiced opposition during the hearing, reflecting ongoing frustration and grief over the crashes and the company’s handling of the aftermath.
