Boeing and DOJ Reportedly Reach Non-Prosecution Agreement Over Fatal Crashes

Boeing reportedly reached a non-prosecution agreement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) Thursday over the fatal crashes of two of its 737 Max aircraft.

The Details: The crashes, occurring in 2018 and 2019, resulted in the deaths of 346 people due to faulty flight control systems. The agreement, set to finalize this week, comes after the DOJ accused Boeing of conspiracy to defraud the government by misleading regulators about its inclusion of a flight-control system that was implicated in the crashes. It includes Boeing’s admittance to “conspiracy to obstruct and impede” a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigation and requires the company to pay $1.1 billion in various fines, avoiding both trial and potential felony charges.

Key Quotes: Some victims’ relatives asserted that the agreement doesn’t hold Boeing justly accountable, as one victim’s mother said, “The government is sending a message to the public that big companies are above the law and justice, even when they kill.” The DOJ argued, “This resolution holds Boeing financially accountable, provides finality and compensation for the families and makes an impact for the safety of future air travelers.”

For Context: Boeing reached a settlement with President Donald Trump’s DOJ in 2021 that protected it from prosecution for three years. The company reportedly violated the initial settlement by failing to create and follow a compliance and ethics program aimed at detecting fraud. It has since claimed to improve systems responsible for the fatal crashes. In May 2025, Trump accepted a luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft from the Qatari government that may serve as Air Force One.

How The Media Covered It: Media across the political spectrum covered the agreement critically, emphasizing concerns of victims’ relatives. Both CNBC (Lean Left bias) and BBC News (Center) specifically noted that the 2021 prosecution protections were under the Trump administration, while Washington Examiner (Lean Right) did not.

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