US judge dismisses criminal charges against Boeing over 737 Max 8 crashes

NEW YORK – In a significant development, US Judge Reed O’Connor decided to dismiss criminal charges against Boeing on November 6 in connection with the deadly crashes of its 737 Max 8 aircraft. This decision was part of an agreement reached between the Department of Justice (DoJ) and Boeing, arising from the tragic incidents that claimed 346 lives. The agreement, dated May 23, included Boeing paying a total sum of US$1.1 billion in exchange for the dismissal of a charge of ‘conspiracy to defraud the United States,’ which was related to the certification of the Max aircraft, as indicated in a federal filing. The compensation package consists of a US$244 million fine, US$445 million for a compensation fund for the victims’ families, and US$455 million allocated to enhance safety, quality, and compliance programs at Boeing.