Current:Home > MyRelatives of passengers who died in Boeing Max crashes will face off in court with the company-LoTradeCoin
Relatives of passengers who died in Boeing Max crashes will face off in court with the company
View Date:2024-12-24 01:06:12
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Relatives of some of the 346 people who died in two crashes involving Boeing 737 Max planes are expected in court on Friday, where their lawyers will ask a federal judge to throw out a plea agreement that the aircraft manufacturer struck with federal prosecutors.
The family members want the government to put Boeing on trial, where the company could face tougher punishment.
In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a single felony count of conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with winning regulatory approval of the Max. The settlement between Boeing and the Justice Department calls for Boeing — a big government contractor — to pay a fine and be placed on probation.
Passengers’ relatives call it a sweetheart deal that fails to consider the lives lost.
“The families who lost loved ones in the 737 Max crashes deserve far more than the inadequate, superficial deal struck between Boeing and the Department of Justice,” said Erin Applebaum, a lawyer whose firm represents some of the families. “They deserve a transparent legal process that truly holds Boeing accountable for its actions.”
Lawyers for the government and the company filed court briefs defending the settlement, and lawyers for the passengers’ families explained their opposition to the deal. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor will get to question both sides during Friday’s hearing in Fort Worth, Texas.
If the judge accepts the guilty plea, he must also approve the sentence that Boeing and prosecutors agreed upon — he can’t impose different terms. It is unclear when O’Connor will decide the matter.
Boeing is accused of misleading regulators who approved minimal, computer-based training for Boeing 737 pilots before they could fly the Max. Boeing wanted to prevent regulators from requiring training in flight simulators, which would have raised the cost for airlines to operate the plane.
The Justice Department argues that conspiracy to defraud the government is the most serious charge it can prove. Prosecutors say they can’t prove that Boeing’s actions caused the crashes in 2018 in Indonesia and 2019 in Ethiopia.
The agreement calls for Boeing, which is based in Arlington, Virginia, to pay a fine of at least $243.6 million, invest $455 million in compliance and safety programs, and be placed on probation for three years.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Harriet Tubman posthumously named a general in Veterans Day ceremony
- Mad Dog Russo, Arizona Diamondbacks' Torey Lovullo 'bury hatchet' at World Series
- House Republican seeks to change motion-to-vacate rule that brought down McCarthy
- Critics seek delay in planned cap on shelter for homeless families in Massachusetts
- Tesla Cybertruck modifications upgrade EV to a sci-fi police vehicle
- Arizona attorney general investigating county officials who refused to certify 2022 election
- Amnesty International says Israeli forces wounded Lebanese civilians with white phosphorus
- 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown': How to watch on Halloween night
- Lululemon, Disney partner for 34-piece collection and campaign: 'A dream collaboration'
- Biden and Xi to meet in San Francisco in November, White House says
Ranking
- Bluesky has added 1 million users since the US election as people seek alternatives to X
- Horoscopes Today, October 31, 2023
- Looking for a baked salmon recipe? What to know about internal temp, seasoning, more.
- Wildfire fanned by Santa Ana winds forces thousands from their homes outside L.A.
- As CFP rankings punish SEC teams, do we smell bias against this proud and mighty league?
- Maine gunman is the latest mass shooter with a military background. Experts explain the connection.
- Does candy corn kill 500,000 Americans each Halloween? Yes, according to a thing I read.
- What are witch storms? Severe weather pattern could hit Midwest in November
Recommendation
-
Jared Goff stats: Lions QB throws career-high 5 INTs in SNF win over Texans
-
Where are the Black punks now?
-
John Kirby: Israel has extra burden of doing everything it can to protect innocent lives in Gaza
-
Steelers in precarious spot as problems finally catch up to them
-
Wreck of Navy destroyer USS Edsall known as 'the dancing mouse' found 80 years after sinking
-
Tyler Christopher's General Hospital Family Mourns His Death in Moving Tributes
-
Jacob Lew, former treasury secretary to Obama, confirmed as US ambassador to Israel
-
Adolis Garcia, Max Scherzer injuries: Texas Rangers stars removed from World Series roster