Boeing, the American aircraft manufacturing giant, has admitted to fraud in connection with two catastrophic crashes of its 737 Max airplanes, resulting in the deaths of over 300 passengers and crew members. The admission comes as part of a settlement with U.S. authorities, as reported by the BBC Russian Service.
In 2018 and 2019, two Boeing 737 Max aircraft were involved in devastating crashes. The first incident occurred in October 2018 when Lion Air Flight 610 plunged into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff from Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 189 people on board. This was followed by the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019, which killed 157 passengers and crew members shortly after departure from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
These tragedies led to a global grounding of the 737 Max model, as investigations revealed that Boeing had misled the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about the safety and reliability of its flight control system, specifically the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), which was implicated in both crashes.
In 2021, U.S. prosecutors filed charges against Boeing, accusing the company of deceiving regulators and compromising passenger safety. However, Boeing managed to avoid criminal prosecution by agreeing to a settlement that included a $243.6mn fine and a commitment to invest $455mn in safety programs over three years. This deal allowed Boeing to evade further criminal proceedings, provided it complied with the financial penalties and monitoring conditions imposed by the settlement.
Despite the settlement, the controversy surrounding Boeing's practices resurfaced in January 2024, when an Alaska Airlines 737 Max experienced a safety failure involving the tearing off of part of its fuselage. This incident prompted a new investigation into the safety of the aircraft and Boeing’s compliance with the agreed-upon safety measures.
The families of the victims of the 737 Max crashes have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the settlement. They argue that the deal is unfair and insufficient in holding Boeing accountable for its actions. The families are calling for a public trial to ensure that Boeing faces criminal liability, which they believe would serve as a stronger deterrent against corporate misconduct and ensure greater accountability.
The settlement has also raised concerns about Boeing's status as a U.S. federal contractor. Typically, companies found guilty of criminal activities are excluded from participating in federal tenders. However, the terms of the settlement allowed Boeing to avoid such repercussions, further fueling the families’ calls for a more stringent legal response.
Comments (0)