In 2018 and 2019, two separate Boeing 737 Max crashes claimed the lives of a total of 346 individuals. After being charged with fraud conspiracy in the aftermath of the crashes, Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion as part of a deferred prosecution agreement. However, recent events have brought the settlement into question, with the Justice Department stating that Boeing had failed to fulfill the conditions of the agreement.
Now, families of victims from those crashes are demanding that Boeing be fined $25 billion following a recent Senate subcommittee hearing where Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun testified. These demands come after a $2.5 billion settlement in 2021, which has now come under scrutiny due to a recent incident involving Alaska Airlines.
Paul Cassell, an attorney representing 15 families of the crash victims, sent a letter to the Justice Department calling for nearly $25 billion in fines to be levied against Boeing. He argued that this amount was legally justified and appropriate, proposing that part of the fine could be suspended if Boeing committed to investing in safety improvements and an independent corporate monitor.
During his testimony before the Senate committee, Calhoun offered a personal apology to victims’ families on behalf of Boeing. He expressed deep sorrow for their losses and emphasized the company’s commitment to passenger safety. Despite these efforts, however
