Accidents
Boeing To Face Criminal Charges Related to Max Crashes
A Texas federal judge has ruled that Boeing must appear in court on January 26 for arraignment on criminal charges over two fatal 737 Max accidents.
A Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 approaches Jakarta in September 2018. The crash of another Lion Air Max on October 29, 2018, claimed the lives of 189 people. (Photo: Flickr Creative Commons)
A Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 approaches Jakarta in September 2018. The crash of another Lion Air Max on October 29, 2018, claimed the lives of 189 people. (Photo: Flickr Creative Commons)

A Texas federal judge has ruled that Boeing must appear in court on January 26 for arraignment on federal criminal charges related to the twin crashes of 737 Max jets that claimed the lives of 346 people. Initially, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) granted Boeing immunity from criminal prosecution as part of a $2.5 billion settlement reached in January 2021. However, the lawyers for the victims’ families argued that they should have been allowed to participate in the case under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act and the judge agreed, ruling in favor of the victims last October.

The crashes in 2018 and 2019 in Indonesia and Ethiopia led to a 20-month grounding of the 737 Max and prompted the U.S. Congress to pass legislation reforming airplane certification.