Boeing won't face a criminal conspiracy charge over two 737 Max jetliner crashes that killed 346 people | Fortune

"Boeing will not face a criminal conspiracy charge over two 737 Max jetliner crashes that killed 346 people, after a federal judge in Texas on Thursday granted the government's request to dismiss the case. As part of a deal to drop the charge, the American aerospace company has agreed to pay or invest an additional $1.1 billion in fines, compensation for the crash victims' families, and internal safety and quality measures."

"Prosecutors alleged Boeing deceived government regulators about a flight-control system that was later implicated in the fatal flights. The ruling comes after an emotional hearing in September in Fort Worth where relatives of some of the victims urged U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor to reject the deal and instead appoint a special prosecutor to take over the case. O'Connor wrote Thursday that the deal "fails to secure the necessary accountability to ensure the safety of the flying public.""

"Still, he said, the court can't block the dismissal simply because it disagrees with the government's view that the deal serves the public interest. The Justice Department has said a trial risks a jury verdict that spares Boeing from further punishment. The judge also said the government hadn't acted in bad faith, had provided reasons for the dismissal and had met their obligations under the Crime Victims' Rights Act."

A federal judge in Texas granted the government's request to dismiss a criminal conspiracy charge against Boeing related to two 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people. Boeing agreed to pay or invest an additional $1.1 billion in fines, victim compensation, and internal safety and quality measures as part of the deal. The agreement allows Boeing to choose its own compliance consultant rather than appointing an independent monitor. Prosecutors had alleged deception of government regulators about a flight-control system implicated in the crashes. The judge criticized the deal's accountability but ruled the court could not block the dismissal.

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