Boeing agreed late Sunday, July 7, to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge related to two deadly crashes involving its 737 Max jets. With the guilty plea, Boeing will be labeled a criminal felon, potentially jeopardizing the company’s ability to secure government contracts.
As part of the plea agreement with the Department of Justice, Boeing will pay an additional $243.6 million fine, on top of a previously paid $243 million fine.
Boeing has also agreed to invest at least $455 million in safety and compliance programs.
The plea deal comes after the DOJ found that Boeing violated a 2021 agreement to implement safety changes following the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people.
The plea deal still requires a judge’s approval. Families of the victims say they will ask the judge to reject the deal, as they prefer Boeing to face a trial and harsher penalties.