By Vineet Malik | July 1, 2024 | London, England
The United States (US) Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged Boeing for committing criminal fraud in context with two incidents of 737 Max jetliners – Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines plane crashes occurred in 2018 and 2019
Boeing has been given one week to either plead guilty and pay $487.2 Million financial penalty or face criminal trial in the court of law.
The decision was conveyed to the victims’ relatives through a phone call yesterday.
The Federal Government has been accused by the Attorneys representing the victims’ relatives for letting off Boeing through ‘Sweetheart Plea Deal’.
The case is being heard in the Court of District Judge Reed O’Connor in the Northern District of Texas.
The modalities being drafted says a financial penalty, three year term probation and work under corporate monitor will be part of the deal offered to Boeing by the US DOJ.
Attorney Sanjiv Singh representing on behalf of 16 families of the victims’ had called on the DOJ to independently appoint a corporate monitor of Boeing instead of allowing the plane maker to field its own people. “I am stunned that the DOJ deflected our demand and fell back on ‘oh its policy’,” said Singh.
Attorney Erin Applebaum, appearing for the victims’ condemned the offer given to Boeing. She said “It is shameful, the offer completely fails to mention or recognize the dignity of the victims.”
1st Flight : Lion Air Flight Number 610 from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia crashed in October 2018
The plane crashed due to multitudinous aircraft design flaws, lack of pilot training and maintenance issues.
2nd Flight : Ethiopian Airlines Flight Number 302 from Ethiopia to Kenya crashed in March 2019
The aircraft crashed immediately after take off from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport near Ejere town due to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System.
Attorney Paul Cassell representing another 15 victims’ said “The memory of 346 innocent killed by Boeing demands more justice than this. Relatives of those who died will strenuously object to this plea deal.
This is a ‘no-accountability-deal’.
The deal will not acknowledge in any way that Boeing was involved in killing 346 people. It also appears to rest on the idea that Boeing did not harm any victim.”
Boeing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dave Calhoun decided to ground all 733 Max Airplanes from March 2019 to December 2020.
The most recent incident happened in January this year where-in, a panel blew off in an another controversial Boeing Max 9 series Alaska Airlines flight. A probe later revealed, four bolts were missing on the airplane door.
Boeing has been under a scanner for involvement in manufacturing and quality defects.
Boeing’s global reach includes clients in 150 countries and partnership contracts with governments worldwide.
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