A US federal judge has dismissed criminal charges against Boeing over the deadly crashes of its 737 MAX 8 aircraft, following a controversial settlement agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ). The Texas court’s decision on Thursday ends years of legal battles stemming from the tragic accidents in 2018 and 2019 that claimed 346 lives.
Under the terms of the agreement, Boeing will pay $1.1 billion to resolve the criminal charge related to alleged fraud during the aircraft’s certification process. The deal, first announced in May, effectively halts a criminal trial that had been scheduled for June in Fort Worth, Texas.
The crashes — a Lion Air flight in Indonesia and an Ethiopian Airlines flight near Addis Ababa exposed serious flaws in Boeing’s Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), a flight control feature later blamed for both disasters.
Boeing expressed remorse for the tragedies, stating, “We are deeply sorry for the losses and remain committed to improving safety, quality, and compliance across our operations.”
However, the decision has sparked outrage among victims’ families and safety advocates, who argue that the ruling allows Boeing to escape true accountability. “The message sent by this action is clear companies don’t need to worry about making their products safe,” said Javier de Luis, whose sister was among the victims.
The case has lingered since a 2021 DOJ agreement, in which Boeing admitted to misleading regulators but avoided prosecution under a three-year probation. The DOJ later accused Boeing of violating that deal due to ongoing safety concerns.
While some families welcomed the closure, others feel justice remains elusive. The ruling marks a significant and controversial chapter in Boeing’s long effort to rebuild trust after the 737 MAX crisis that severely damaged its reputation in global aviation.
