Boeing

The U.S. DOJ finalized a deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing, sparing criminal charges for 737 MAX crashes (2018-2019, 346 fatalities) tied to concealed safety flaws. Boeing will pay $687 million, including $444.5 million for victims, and enhance compliance measures. Victim families denounced the deal as “corporate immunity,” building on their criticism of Boeing’s 2021 $2.46 billion settlement. Legal experts questioned accountability despite a DOJ fraud indictment for misleading regulators. The agreement coincides with Boeing’s $4.7 billion Spirit AeroSystems acquisition, raising concerns about safety reforms. Analysts remain split on whether this resolves Boeing’s legal risks or delays broader reckoning.