A U.S. federal judge has dismissed a criminal conspiracy charge against Boeing tied to the two deadly 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019, after approving a Justice Department deal requiring the company to pay and invest $1.1 billion in fines, victim compensation, and safety reforms.
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor granted the government’s request to dismiss the case, marking a controversial end to a years-long legal battle over Boeing’s alleged deception of regulators regarding the aircraft’s flight-control software.
The decision follows a September hearing where several victims’ relatives urged the court to reject the deal and put Boeing on trial. Some families accused the company of “buying its freedom,” while others supported a resolution to avoid prolonged legal proceedings.
The Justice Department argued that the agreement would better serve public interest than risking a trial that could lead to a lighter outcome. According to prosecutors, families of 110 victims either supported or did not oppose the settlement.
The crashes — off Indonesia in October 2018 and Ethiopia in March 2019 — exposed serious flaws in Boeing’s MCAS flight-control system, which pushed the aircraft’s nose down due to faulty sensor readings. The incidents led to a 20-month global grounding of the 737 Max and major changes to its design and certification process.
Boeing was first charged in January 2021 with defrauding the U.S. government, but a previous plea deal requiring the company to admit guilt fell apart earlier this year when Judge O’Connor refused to approve it.
With this ruling, Boeing avoids a criminal trial but remains under scrutiny as it implements new safety and compliance commitments under the Justice Department’s supervision.
Relatives of many victims, including Catherine Berthet of France — whose daughter died in the Ethiopia crash — expressed deep disappointment, saying the decision denies them the accountability they sought for years.