Boeing's Criminal Case Dismissed Following 737 Max Crashes

Mon Nov 10 2025 23:12:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A US court has dismissed the criminal case against Boeing related to the deadly crashes of the 737 Max, despite objections from the victims' families. This decision highlights the ongoing legal and ethical dilemmas surrounding the aviation giant.

A federal court has granted Boeing's request to dismiss a criminal case stemming from two tragic 737 Max crashes, which resulted in 346 fatalities. Judge Reed O'Connor expressed skepticism regarding the government’s reasoning but stated he lacked the authority to deny the request. Families of the victims opposed the dismissal, and plans to appeal are underway. The decision reflects ongoing debates about corporate accountability and safety standards in the aviation industry.

Boeing will avoid a criminal charge in the US linked to two deadly 737 Max crashes, after a court granted a request from the US government to dismiss the criminal case.

In his ruling, Judge Reed O'Connor said he disagreed that dropping the charge was in the public interest but said his concerns did not give him sufficient reason to deny the proposal.

The decision marks a major win for Boeing, after the government last year accused it of violating a settlement related to the crashes, raising the threat of prosecution.

The dismissal had been opposed by some of the families of those killed in the accidents, who had sought to hold Boeing accountable at trial.

Lawyer Paul Cassell, who represents some of the families, said he intended to appeal against the ruling.

In his decision on Thursday, Mr. O'Connor stated that the government's concerns about proceeding to trial were unserious and expressed doubt that the new agreement struck between the government and Boeing would guarantee proper accountability for passenger safety.

The Department of Justice defended its agreement, stating it had engaged extensively with the crash victims' families, who shared a range of opinions on the matter. The DOJ emphasized that the resolution would bring finality for victims' families and that Boeing is committed to improving safety and compliance programs.

The decision culminates a long legal battle stemming from two significant 737 Max crashes, one in 2018 in Indonesia and another in 2019 in Ethiopia, that collectively claimed 346 lives. The US had charged Boeing with criminal fraud conspiracy, accusing the company of hiding critical information about its flight control software related to the crashes.

Boeing had previously admitted to wrongdoing and avoided prosecution in 2021, agreeing to a $2.5 billion settlement and promised enhancements in safety standards. Nonetheless, last year, following separate incidents, the DOJ reopened the case and considered a new guilty plea along with additional penalties.

This latest settlement proposed by prosecutors dropped the criminal charge but necessitated Boeing to implement independent compliance oversight and allocate substantial financial commitments to safety improvements and victim compensation.

Despite the ruling, Boeing asserts its commitment to the ongoing restructuring of its safety protocols, while the case's victims' families continue to seek justice through the appeals process.