Thu, 06 Nov 2025

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 Boeing criminal case linked to deadly 737 crashes dropped

The judge said he did not believe the decision was in the public interest but he did not have authority to deny the request.
A US court has dismissed a criminal charge against Boeing related to two fatal 737 Max crashes, which killed 346 people. The decision was made after the Department of Justice (DOJ) requested that the charge be dropped, citing concerns over "protracted litigation" and the need for finality for the victims' families. Judge Reed O'Connor disagreed with the proposal but did not have sufficient reason to deny it. Boeing had previously agreed to plead guilty to the charge but will now avoid a criminal record under the new deal. The company must still hire an independent compliance consultant and make $1.1bn in financial commitments, including penalties. The decision has been met with criticism from families of those killed in the crashes, who argue that it does not provide sufficient accountability for Boeing's actions. They intend to appeal against the ruling.
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