Boeing likely to withdraw guilty plea in fatal 737 MAX crashes

The US aircraft manufacturer Boeing pleaded guilty last year to misleading US authorities about an avionics system. Problems with this led to two crashes and 346 deaths. However, it is now being reported that Boeing wants to withdraw its confession in order to obtain a potentially more lenient sentence from the new US Department of Justice under Donald Trump. This is because the proceedings are still ongoing and the new US government is currently investigating a number of pending cases.

In July 2024 and 5 years after the fatal 737 MAX crashes, Boeing admitted to the crime. The company pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit criminal fraud against the US government, thereby avoiding a courtroom trial. While no one went to jail, the proposed fine for the crime equaled 0.03 percent of Boeing's most recent annual revenue. However, last December, a court in Texas rejected the proposed deal, meaning that the case was not closed under the previous US President Joe Biden.

Under the new President Donald Trump, Boeing is hoping for more lenient treatment or at least changes to the previously approved agreement, according to the Wall Street Journal (published on MSN). The aircraft manufacturer and the Department of Justice are currently still negotiating changes to the deal, which is to be presented to Judge Reed O'Connor on April 11. Both Boeing and the Department of Justice declined to comment when asked for comment.

Boeing wants to pay, but not be monitored

In addition to the fine of 243.6 million US dollars, Boeing had agreed to invest at least another 455 million dollars in its compliance and safety programs as part of the guilty plea. The aircraft manufacturer also accepted an independent observer to monitor Boeing's safety and quality procedures for three years. While the company does not plan to back away from its investment in safety programs, according to sources familiar with the matter, Boeing is trying to avoid the independent monitor through a modified deal with the Justice Department.

Justice O'Connor had rejected the previous agreement because principles of diversity, equity and inclusion should be followed to select the independent observer. This was even before Trump and his followers had opposed these principles. It is unclear whether O'Connor agrees with the removal of this passage from the deal and will agree to the new agreement. The judge had previously said that Boeing's crime "may well be considered the deadliest economic crime in US history".

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