Boeing to face a potential criminal trial for the deaths caused
In a stunning turn of events, U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor has rejected the plea agreement proposed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in the criminal conspiracy case against Boeing. The case stems from the tragic crashes of two 737 MAX8 jets that claimed 346 lives. The rejection opens the door for Boeing to potentially face a criminal trial for the deaths caused by the crashes.
In a detailed 12-page opinion released today, December 5, 2024, Judge O’Connor criticized the DOJ’s efforts over the past three years, stating, “It is fair to say the government’s attempt to assure [Boeing’s] compliance has failed.”
Attorney Paul Cassell, representing the families of the crash victims and a professor at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, hailed the decision as a significant victory. “Judge O’Connor’s emphatic rejection of the plea deal is an important victory for the families in this case and, more broadly, crime victims’ interests in the criminal justice process,” Cassell said. “No longer can federal prosecutors and high-powered defense attorneys craft backroom deals and just expect judges to approve them. Victims can object – and when they have good reasons for striking a plea, judges will respond.”
Cassell criticized the original plea deal as a “cosy deal” between the DOJ and Boeing that overlooked accountability for the crashes. He called for a renegotiation of the agreement to reflect the severity of the crimes and to ensure proper corporate oversight. “This order should lead to a significant renegotiation of the plea deal to reflect the 346 deaths Boeing criminally caused and put in place proper monitoring of Boeing to ensure that it never again commits a crime like this in the future.”
he rejected plea deal, originally struck on July 24, 2024, required Boeing to plead guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The deal also included a $243.6 million monetary penalty and corporate compliance measures that Judge O’Connor deemed inadequate.
This ruling represents a major shift in the legal battle surrounding the crashes, with Boeing now facing the prospect of a full trial. Families of the victims, recognized by the court as crime victims under the federal Crime Victims’ Rights Act, are hopeful that justice will be served.