Report: US Prosecutors Recommend Boeing Criminal Charges
The Facts
US prosecutors are recommending to senior officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ) that criminal charges be brought against aviation giant Boeing, according to two sources cited in a Reuters report late on Sunday.
It followed a weekend of uncertainty. On Friday, the New York Times, with reference to its own sources, reported that Boeing is expected to avoid criminal prosecution for violating a 2021 settlement with the DOJ in relation to two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
The Spin
While US prosecutors may be recommending charges, Boeing disputes that it violated the 2021 agreement. Realistically, Boeing will not face criminal charges. For one, they have large contracts with the US Department of Defense and any conviction could put those deals in jeopardy. It's much more likely that they'll extend the previous DOJ deal, with some stricter terms, or strike a brand new agreement.
It looks like Boeing will finally face criminal prosecution for the two plane crashes that killed a total of 346 people. After the DOJ found in May that Boeing had violated the terms of the 2021 settlement, not only are the original charges on the table again, but the DOJ may introduce new ones as well. Boeing has got away with this for too long and it's time it's held culpable for its crimes.
