Boeing will get another 'sweetheart' plea deal on fatal crashes that killed 346 people: Reports
File photo of a Boeing aircraft.
Looks like Boeing is going to get away with just a rap on the knuckles for two fatal crashes that led to deaths of hundreds of passengers. If reports are to be believed, the US justice department has entered into a plea deal with the American plane maker, already under scrutiny for safety issues in the wake of the infamous 'mid-air window blowout' incident.
Multiple news organisations are reporting that, in spite of the grilling faced by Boeing officials at Congress, the firm will get a plea deal.
The fatal crashes involving Boeing Max planes had killed a total of 346 people in 2018 and 2019.
Earlier reports had said the justice department had asked Boeing to either plead guilty on conspiracy charges for the crashes, or face trial.
ABC News reported that the justice department's plea deal offer will help Boeing avoid trial on conspiracy to defraud the United States. It cited the lawyers representing relatives of the victims.
The families have been informed of the deal proposal, said the report.
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What's in the plea deal?
As per the reports, in return for a guilty plea on a case filed in 2021, Boeing officials will be able to avoid trial.
Specifically, the guilty plea is for alleged misleading of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the safety evaluation of Boeing 737 Max model planes.
As per the deal, Boeing should appoint an external monitor and pay $200 million in fines, and remain in probation for three years.
Families of victims slam possible plea deal
When told about the proposal, the families expressed outrage, according to multiple reports citing their lawyers.
The deal, according to them, does not place accountability or admission of guilt on the conspiracy.
The $200 million fine is a pittance, when compared to the families' original demand of more than $20 billion, which could have sent the company into financial turmoil, or even bankruptcy.
In a statement, the families' lawyers Robert Clifford and Paul Cassell described it as "another sweetheart plea deal" that will "not acknowledge, in any way, that Boeing's crime killed 346 people."
"It also appears to rest on the idea that Boeing did not harm any victim," they said.
(With inputs from agencies)