A federal judge in Texas rejected a proposed plea deal between Boeing and the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ), citing concerns over the court’s limited role in selecting an independent monitor for the aerospace giant. The decision marks a victory for families of victims of two fatal Boeing 737 Max crashes, who opposed the deal as overly lenient.
Judge Reed O’Connor, based in Fort Worth, Texas, objected to provisions that sidelined the court in the selection of an independent compliance monitor, a key part of Boeing’s probation under the agreement. O’Connor emphasized that the process must focus on competency to ensure public trust. He criticized the inclusion of diversity and inclusion (DEI) language in the monitor selection criteria, calling it detrimental to confidence in Boeing’s ethical and anti-fraud efforts.
The plea agreement was tied to the crashes of two 737 Max jets in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people. Under the deal, Boeing admitted to conspiring to mislead regulators about the safety of the aircraft. The company agreed to pay over $240 million in fines and accept a three-year probation period. However, the agreement allowed the DOJ, with Boeing’s input, to control the independent monitor’s appointment—a structure Judge O’Connor declined to approve.
In his ruling, O’Connor gave Boeing and the DOJ 30 days to renegotiate and submit updated terms. Family members of crash victims, represented by legal advocates, praised the decision. Erin Applebaum, an attorney for families of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 victims, called for stricter accountability measures commensurate with Boeing’s actions.
The Justice Department defended the inclusion of DEI language, stating it has been part of similar agreements since 2018. Boeing has not commented on the ruling, and the DOJ is reviewing the court’s order.
The case follows Boeing’s 2021 deferred prosecution agreement and raises broader questions about corporate accountability and the role of diversity in legal oversight. Boeing’s recent compliance failures, including a midair door malfunction in January, have further intensified scrutiny of the company’s practices
