Boeing Pleads Guilty in Final Sweetheart Deal
NewsweekJul 18
Boeing Agrees to $244M Fine Over Fatal 737 Max Crashes
Above: Family members of those killed in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Lion Air Flight 610 crashes hold photographs of their loved ones at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Investigations Subcommittee hearing on June 18, 2024. Image copyright: Andrew Harnik/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Boeing, which agreed in principle to plead guilty earlier this month over two fatal 737 Max crashes, filed a plea deal with the US Justice Department in federal court on Wednesday.
In the final version of the plea deal filed in Texas, Boeing admitted conspiring to defraud a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) group that approved the 737 Max jetliner.
The Spin
Narrative A
Boeing's plea deal over the 737 Max crashes could be a critical step towards its resurgence. By settling the federal probe, Boeing can avoid a prolonged and costly trial, letting it focus on rebuilding its reputation and regaining trust and stability.
Narrative B
Boeing's plea deal neither addresses the deeper issues plaguing the company nor impacts its contracts. The company's culture of prioritizing speed over safety will continue to erode trust. This reputational damage overshadows any financial relief from the plea deal.
Narrative C
Boeing has been receiving preferential and sweetheart treatment for far too long. Judge Reed O'Connor must reject the plea deal. The real deal is when Boeing faces a full trial and a harsher penalty, and its current and former executives are criminally charged.