A federal judge in Texas approved the Department of Justice’s move to dismiss felony charges against Boeing tied to two deadly 737 MAX crashes, while families and attorneys promise quick appeals and lingering civil suits continue to be sorted. The decision follows a deal that shifted criminal exposure into a non-prosecution agreement requiring more than $1.1 billion in payments and compliance commitments, and a judge raised concerns about whether the arrangement delivers true accountability. This article lays out the ruling, the terms, reactions from victims’ families, and the status of related civil cases.
Judge Reed O’Connor accepted the DOJ’s motion to dismiss the felony case in the Northern District of Texas, concluding the government met its legal obligations despite family objections. O’Connor noted the government did not act in bad faith and provided reasons he deemed sufficient under the law. The ruling clears Boeing of criminal charges that were tied to crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that together cost hundreds of lives.
Boeing had earlier agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government as part of a deal struck with the Trump administration, a move that traded a criminal prosecution for a negotiated settlement. The agreement stems from the October 2018 and March 2019 737 MAX 8 disasters that killed 346 people. The shift from a criminal trial to a non-prosecution framework has been the focal point of criticism from many families and their lawyers.
The non-prosecution agreement calls for more than $1.1 billion in fines and payments, with more than $455 million earmarked to boost Boeing’s compliance, safety, and quality programs. An additional $445 million is allocated for victims’ families under the terms laid out by the Justice Department. Those figures form the financial backbone of the deal that convinced the DOJ to move for dismissal.
“On top of the financial investments, Boeing must continue to improve the effectiveness of its anti-fraud compliance and ethics program and retain an independent compliance consultant,” the spokesperson wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital. The judge questioned how truly independent that monitoring would be, noting Boeing’s ability to choose the consultant and hinting at limits to external oversight. That concern feeds into broader worries that the settlement leaves gaps in public accountability.
Families of crash victims have been vocal and ready to appeal, with plaintiff attorneys signaling a rapid legal response to the dismissal. “The judge recognizes there is a miscarriage of justice on the part of the government’s decision not to prosecute the case, and that this was not in the best interest of the public, which the government serves,” Brammeier wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Unfortunately, he feels the power to right this wrong is limited by legal precedent. The families are disappointed by the outcome but will act quickly to protect the interests of the families and the public on appeal.”
There were also several recent civil resolutions tied to the crashes, including three settlements that concluded just after jury selection in one batch of cases. Those settlements covered victims from diverse backgrounds, including a 28-year-old mother from Kenya and fathers who left behind multiple children and grieving spouses. Still, attorneys say nearly a dozen related cases remain unresolved and will continue to move through the courts.
Flight ET-302, which crashed in March 2019 shortly after departing Addis Ababa for Nairobi, claimed 157 lives and remains central to the legal fallout. The tragic loss deepened international scrutiny of the MAX program and intensified calls for corporate and regulatory accountability. Civil litigation tied to that crash and others has formed the bulk of families’ ongoing efforts for redress.
“victims are at the heart of the Department’s mission” and the Boeing case is no exception. “Rather than allow for protracted litigation, this agreement provides finality for the victims and requires Boeing to act now,” the spokesperson wrote in a statement. “As the Court recognized, the Department in good faith complied with its statutory obligations and met extensively with the crash victims’ families. While they are all experiencing grief, and nothing will diminish their losses, the victims have expressed a broad set of views regarding the resolution, ranging from support to disagreement. Ultimately, in applying the facts, the law, and Department policy, we are confident that this resolution is the most just outcome.”
A Boeing spokesperson said the company is “committed to honoring the obligations of our agreement with the Department of Justice … [and] to continuing the significant efforts we have made as a company to strengthen our safety, quality, and compliance programs.” That pledge underscores Boeing’s public stance that the settlement and its internal reforms will improve aviation safety going forward. Still, critics argue that corporate promises need independent verification and stronger legal consequences to ensure meaningful change.
With criminal exposure removed by the court and civil suits still moving ahead, the legal and political fallout will keep this case in the spotlight. Families and their lawyers have signaled they will use every available legal avenue to challenge what they see as inadequate accountability. The next steps will include appeals and ongoing civil litigation that together will determine whether financial penalties and reforms translate into justice and safer skies.
