Boeing agreed on Sunday, July 7, 2024, to plead guilty in the process of investigating two fatal accidents involving planes of the model. 737 Max. The agreement still needs to be validated by a judge in the United States, the country in which the action was filed. Reuters is the source of information.
The incidents happened in Indonesia in October 2018 and in Ethiopia in March 2019. In total, 346 died.
The agreement, according to the news agency, was presented to the North American Court by the US Department of Justice. A company spokesperson confirmed that Boeing has “reached an agreement” on terms to resolve the lawsuit.
According to federal prosecutors, Boeing engaged in an attempt to deceive the United States government. According to them, the company provided false information to regulators about the flight control software used on the flights cited in the lawsuit.
The aircraft manufacturer has committed to investing a minimum of $455 million over the next three years to improve security and compliance programs. An independent monitor must publicly present annual progress reports on these initiatives. During this period, Boeing will be on probation and must be supervised.
The plane manufacturer’s board of directors will need to meet with the families of the accident victims. The company will have additional penalties if one of the terms is violated. The agreement also calls for Boeing to pay an additional fine of US$243.6 million.
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