BusinessFILE - An airplane flies over a sign on Boeing's 737 delivery center, Oct. 19, 2015, at Boeing Field in Seattle. The Justice Department's determination on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, that Boeing violated corporate probation for deceiving federal regulators does not necessarily mean that prosecutors will revive criminal charges against the giant aircraft manufacturer.
Prosecutors said they would meet in Washington on May 31 with families of passengers who died in the two Max crashes to explain the determination that Boeing has failed to comply with the settlement and get relatives' input. Family members were angry and disappointed after a similar meeting last month.— who upheld the 2021 agreement — that Boeing could be prosecuted for any crime the government knows about, but it did not say what those might be.
Although government prosecutors could revive their original fraud charge, they also may choose to keep Boeing on probation for the 737 Max-related fraud or to ask the judge to permanently dismiss the charge – in effect, ending the case. It would be unusual — but not unprecedented — for the government to call off a corporate plea deal. Last year, Swedish telecommunications companyThe Justice Department said it would notify the judge of its decision about Boeing no later than July 7.
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