Boeing Plea Deal Rejected by Judge Over 737 Max Crashes

A federal judge has rejected a plea deal between Boeing and the U.S. government, which sought to address ongoing legal issues stemming from two fatal 737 Max crashes.

Judge Reed O'Connor of the Northern District of Texas ruled that the agreement was inappropriate, particularly criticizing provisions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the selection of an independent monitor.

The legal challenges originated from the 2018 and 2019 crashes of 737 Max planes operated by Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines. Investigations revealed that a malfunctioning pilot safety system, which Boeing had misrepresented to regulators, contributed to the disasters. In 2021, Boeing reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. However, ongoing safety and quality control issues prompted additional scrutiny, leading to the now-rejected plea deal.

Judge O'Connor highlighted several problems with the agreement. He criticized a clause requiring race to be considered in the hiring of the independent monitor, stating, “These provisions are inappropriate and against the public interest.” The judge also expressed concerns about the deal’s limitations on the court’s oversight, arguing that it was overly lenient toward Boeing and failed to ensure compliance with the monitor's recommendations.

The agreement also included provisions aimed at increasing racial diversity within Boeing’s workforce, such as hiring more Black employees. While the government assured the court that the monitor would be chosen solely on merit, O'Connor remained skeptical of this claim.