Boeing 737 Max crashes have claimed the lives of 346 people, and the families of the victims have called on the US Department of Justice to fine the aircraft manufacturer $24.8 billion and hold those responsible accountable. In a letter to the department, Paul Cassell, a representative of the families, stated that Boeing’s actions constitute the deadliest corporate crime in American history. He justified the fine as legally justified and appropriate given the severity of the situation.
The families outlined their reasoning for the requested amount in a 32-page letter, suggesting that $14 to $22 billion could be suspended if Boeing uses the funds for an independent audit and improvements to its compliance and safety programs. During a hearing in the US Senate, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun acknowledged the seriousness of the production quality issues and assured that measures have been taken to address them.
Behind Calhoun during the hearing were relatives of individuals who perished in Boeing crashes in 2018 and 2019. Calhoun expressed his apologies to the families on behalf of all Boeing employees worldwide for their loss. Boeing has been struggling with production and quality challenges with its commercial aviation aircraft for several months, with various audits identifying significant problems, notably in quality control.
Last month, Boeing submitted an action plan to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to its request, as the company faces potential criminal charges in Texas. The situation remains critical for Boeing as they work to address the production and quality issues affecting their aircraft.
