Attorneys for 16 families of the fatal Boeing 737 Max Crash victims told the BBC that the deal between the aviation giant and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is “morally rebellious.”
The company said in its application Wednesday it agreed to pay $1.1 billion (£811.5 million) to prevent it from being charged with two crashes that killed 346 people.
Sanjiv Singh, an attorney for some families of the victims of the 2018 crash crash in Indonesia, said the transaction allows the company to “avoid true criminal liability.”
Boeing previously said, “We are deeply sorry for their losses and continue to be committed to respecting the memories of our loved ones by advancing the widespread, deep change into our company.”
The transaction includes a company that pays $444.5 million to the families of crash victims. It will also spend $455 million on improving compliance, safety and quality programs.
Under the contract, Boeing also agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $487.2 million, half of which had already been paid in 2021.
“Boeing is committed to complying with its obligations under this resolution, including substantial additional fines and commitment to further institutional improvements and investment,” a company spokesperson said.
If the transaction is approved by a federal judge, the plane maker will avoid criminal fraud trials.
“(DOJ) agreed that it would not even criminally prosecute the company,” Boeing said in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The BBC contacted the DOJ and requested further comment on the contract.
The two largest aircraft of the 737 crashed in separate, almost identical accidents that killed 346 people.
In October 2018, all 189 people on the Lion Air Force flight were killed after the aircraft collided with the Java Sea 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia.
In March 2019, the Ethiopian airline flight crashed six minutes after taking off from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. All 157 people on board were killed. Both crashes were linked to a failure in the flight control system.
In 2021, Boeing agreed to resolve US fraud charges and admitted a deception regarding hiding information from safety officials regarding the design of the 737's largest plane.
Victims' relatives have the opportunity to appeal this latest deal when considered by a federal judge.
Singh says he believes the latest contract has caused “vibrant rage” from his clients and is insufficient for his current payments.
“If you look at $1.1 billion, it's actually like Boeing pays $10 to escape criminal responsibility, as if he's got a ticket or a parking ticket for a misdemeanor.”
