U.S. prosecutors are seeking a guilty plea from Boeing over charges related to two fatal crashes of 737 Max planes, a move that has been criticized by attorneys for the victims’ families as a “sweetheart deal.” Justice Department attorneys met with victims’ family members and their lawyers to discuss the potential agreement, which could complicate Boeing’s ability to secure government contracts as a major defense contractor. The DOJ is reviewing whether Boeing violated a 2021 settlement that protected the company from federal charges following the crashes that killed 346 people. The agreement was revisited after a safety incident involving a new 737 Max 9 model. Boeing previously admitted to concealing a new flight-control system from the FAA, which was later implicated in the crashes. The proposed plea deal would require Boeing to pay an additional fine of $247 million and have an outside monitor installed. Critics, including attorney Paul Cassell, have labeled the proposed deal as a “slap on the wrist.” Boeing has not commented on the situation, and it remains to be seen if they will accept the plea deal.
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