Boeing Avoids Criminal Charge Following 737 Max Crash Controversy

Thu Nov 06 2025 23:01:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A US court has dropped criminal charges against Boeing connected to the two fatal 737 Max crashes, a decision opposed by victims' families who seek accountability.

A US court granted a request from the government to dismiss criminal charges against Boeing related to the fatal crashes of two 737 Max planes, a ruling that has sparked disappointment among victims' families. Despite concerns regarding safety accountability, the court accepted the government's assertion of good faith in reaching a new settlement aimed at ensuring Boeing's compliance and safety improvements.

Boeing will avoid a criminal charge in the US linked to two deadly 737 Max crashes, after a court granted a request from the US government to dismiss the criminal case.

In his ruling, Judge Reed O'Connor stated that while he disagreed with dropping the charge as being in the public interest, he lacked sufficient reason to deny the government’s proposal.

This decision represents a notable victory for Boeing following last year's accusation of violating an earlier settlement concerning the crashes, which raised the risk of a criminal prosecution.

Some families of the victims, however, opposed the dismissal, pushing for Boeing to face trial for accountability.

Lawyer Paul Cassell, representing those families, announced an intent to appeal, asserting, We believe that the courts don't have to stand silently by while an injustice is perpetrated.

While Judge O'Connor expressed skepticism regarding the government's assurances of accountability through the new arrangement with Boeing, he acknowledged his inability to contest the DOJ’s request, believing they acted in good faith.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) defended the agreement, arguing it was necessary to prevent prolonged litigation and offered a resolution that would require Boeing to take immediate action for safety enhancements.

Boeing has expressed its commitment to the agreement, emphasizing ongoing efforts to improve the company’s safety and compliance protocols.

The case is part of a protracted legal saga following two major crashes: one off Indonesia in late 2018 and another in Ethiopia in early 2019, which resulted in 346 fatalities. Following these incidents, Boeing was charged with criminal fraud conspiracy, accused of failing to disclose crucial information about malfunctioning flight control software.

Although the company admitted to some claims, it managed to avoid prosecution through a 2021 settlement involving a $2.5 billion payout and commitments to enhance safety practices. The legal issues resurfaced after a 2024 incident involving Boeing's 737 Max.

The prosecution later proposed another deal in which Boeing would plead guilty, pay an additional $243 million, and accept monitoring, but this was rejected due to procedural concerns. The latest settlement removed the criminal charges altogether while mandating Boeing to undertake significant financial commitments and compliance improvements.