Boeing-DOJ deal 'repugnant', says lawyer for victims' families
NEW YORK — A lawyer for 16 families of victims of a fatal Boeing 737 Max crash, has told the BBC that a deal between the firm and the US Justice Department (DOJ) is "morally repugnant".
Boeing said it agreed to pay $1.1bn (£811.5m) to avoid prosecution over two crashes that killed 346 people, in a filing on Wednesday.
Sanjiv Singh, counsel for family members of some of the victims of a 2018 crash in Indonesia, says the deal allows the firm to "sidestep true criminal accountability".
Boeing has previously said: "We are deeply sorry for their losses, and remain committed to honoring their loved ones' memories by pressing forward with the broad and deep changes to our company".
The deal includes the aviation giant paying $444.5m to families of crash victims. It will also put $455m towards improving its compliance, safety and quality programmes.
Under the deal, Boeing also agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $487.2m, although half of that was already paid in 2021."Boeing is committed to complying with its obligations under this resolution, which include a substantial additional fine and commitments to further institutional improvements and investments," said a company spokesperson.If the deal is approved by a federal judge the plane maker will avoid a criminal fraud trial."The [DOJ] agreed that it will not further criminally prosecute the company", said Boeing in a a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing.The BBC has contacted the DOJ to request further comment on the agreement.Two 737 Max aircraft crashed in separate but almost identical accidents that killed 346 people.In October 2018, all 189 people on a Lion Air flight died after the aircraft crashed into the Java Sea 13 minutes after take-off from Jakarta, Indonesia.In March 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed six minutes after take-off from the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. All 157 people on-board were killed. Both crashes were linked to faulty flight control systems.In 2021, Boeing agreed to settle US fraud charges and admitted deception over hiding information from safety officials about the design of its 737 Max planes.Relatives of the victims will have the chance to appeal this latest deal when it is considered by a federal judge.Singh says the latest agreement has provoked "visceral outrage" from his clients and believes the current payout is insufficient."If you look at that $1.1bn, it's actually like Boeing paying $10 to escape criminal liability. It's as if they got a misdemeanor ticket or a parking ticket." — BBC
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
8 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia deports 7,238 illegal residents in a week
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — A total of 12,066 illegal residents were arrested in Saudi Arabia in a week. The arrests were made during the inspections, carried out by the security forces in collaboration with the relevant government agencies, during the period between June 12 and June 18, the Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday. Those who were arrested include 7,333 violators of the Residency Law, 3,060 violators of the Border Security Law, and 1,673 violators of the Labor Law. The ministry said that a total of 7,238 illegal residents were deported while 6,244 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents and 2,209 violators were referred to complete their travel reservations. The total number of people who were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom accounted for 1,206, of whom 32 percent were Yemeni nationals, 65 percent Ethiopian nationals, and three percent belonged to other nationalities. Some 21 people, involved in giving transportation, shelter, and employment for violators, were also arrested. A total of 13,238 illegal residents, including 12,015 men and 1,223 women, are currently undergoing various phases of legal procedures as part of punitive measures against them. The Ministry of Interior has warned that any person, who facilitates the illegal entry of individuals into the Kingdom, transports them on its territory, provides them with shelter or any other assistance or service may be penalized with up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SR1 million. It noted that the vehicles used for transportation or houses used for giving shelter will be confiscated. The ministry urged the public to report any cases of violation by calling the number 911 in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province and the numbers 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom's regions.
Saudi Gazette
9 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
20 drug smugglers nabbed within 24 hours
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Saudi security authorities have arrested 20 drug smugglers in massive security operations carried out across the Kingdom within the last 24 hours. Those arrested include citizens and violators of border security regulations. The arrests were made in the regions of Tabuk, Asir, the Northern Borders, and Jazan, for their involvement in promoting or smuggling narcotics. In the Tabuk region, the General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested six citizens and Egyptian residents for promoting hashish and amphetamine, in addition to pills subject to medical circulation regulations. In the Asir region, a citizen was arrested for promoting 8,000 pills subject to medical circulation regulations. In the Northern Borders region, two citizens were arrested for promoting hashish and amphetamine. As part of efforts to combat cross-border smuggling attempts, Border Guard land patrols teams in the Dhahran Al-Janoub sector in the Asir region arrested five Ethiopian border security violators, who were in possession of 52 kilograms of hashish. Border Guard patrols in Al-Daer sector in the Jazan region also arrested four Ethiopian violators for smuggling 80 kilograms of khat, while security patrols in Al-Farsha governorate in the Asir region foiled an attempt to smuggle 28 kilograms of khat. The security authorities confirmed that they had completed the initial legal procedures against those involved, and handed them over, along with the seized items, to the competent authorities. They were then referred to the Public Prosecution. The authorities emphasized their continued pursuit of anyone who would threaten the security of society. They called upon citizens and residents to report any information they have about any activities related to drug smuggling or trafficking, by calling the numbers 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and the number 999 in the rest of the Saudi regions. The information can also be passed to the General Directorate of Narcotic Control over the number 995, the authorities said while noting that all reports will be dealt with in complete confidentiality.
Arab News
14 hours ago
- Arab News
Kingdom arrests 12,066 illegals in one week
RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 12,066 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. A total of 7,333 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 3,060 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 1,673 for labor-related issues. The report showed that among the 1,206 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 65 percent were Ethiopian, 32 percent Yemeni, and 3 percent were of other nationalities. A further 71 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 21 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported. The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property. Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
