Relatives Seek $24.8 Billion Penalty and Renewed Prosecution
Families of victims who perished in the two Boeing 737 Max crashes are urging the U.S. government to take significant action against the aircraft manufacturer.
Demanding a Record-Setting Fine
In a letter sent to the Justice Department, a lawyer representing the families called for a hefty $24.8 billion fine for Boeing. The lawyer, Paul Cassell, argued this amount is justified considering the crashes represent “the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history.”
Criminal Charges Revived?
Cassell further urged the prosecution of Boeing executives who held leadership positions during the crashes in 2018 and 2019. This includes former CEO Dennis Muilenburg. The crashes tragically claimed a total of 346 lives.
Crash Recaps: Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines
The first incident involved a Lion Air 737 Max 8 that plunged into the Java Sea in October 2018. The second occurred in March 2019, when an Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max 8 crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa.
Justice Department Weighs Criminal Charges
The families’ plea comes as the Justice Department contemplates reviving a previously suspended criminal fraud charge against Boeing. Prosecutors recently determined Boeing violated a 2021 settlement that shielded the company from prosecution for allegedly misleading regulators who approved the Max’s operation.
Deadline for Decision Looms
The Justice Department has until July 7th to inform a Texas federal judge of their decision regarding reviving the case. During a recent Senate hearing, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) emphasized the “mounting evidence” that warrants prosecution against Boeing.
