Quantcast

Boeing's plea deal raises questions about defense contracts

Travelers are taking extreme measures and using hacks to avoid airline baggage fees
Pigeons Cause Chaos on Delta Flight
United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter
United Continues to Face Catering Chaos at San Francisco
Passenger Stows Away on Delta Flight from New York to Paris
Wizz Air becomes first airline to operate P&W-powered Airbus A321XLR jet
Hawaiian Airlines’ new ‘no show’ policy may make travel more expensive
BLIMP-SE OF THE FUTURE Luxury zeppelins of the future from ‘flying bum’ world’s largest aircraft to Google billionaire’s ‘impossible’ airship
Swiss Startup SmartFlyer Develops Hybrid-Electric Trainer
San Francisco-based entrepreneur takes a trip on India's worst-rated airline, his reaction will surprise you
First-Time Flyer at 81: A Grandmother's Memorable Journey
Ryanair forecasts fare rebound as consumers recover from interest-rate hit
Global Airlines Launches Inaugural Flight, Aiming to Revive 'Golden Age of Travel'
Winning routes: American Airlines adds more than 22,000 seats for football fans following release of 2025–2026 pro schedule
Boeing scores Middle East plane deal during Trump visit
Air travel will be ‘worse’ this summer, lawmakers warn — as FAA gives infuriating update on system fixes, staffing issues
Qatar Airways places record $96 billion Boeing order amid Trump visit
United Airlines CEO Reassures Passengers About Newark Airport Safety
American Testing Tech to Help Passengers Make Connecting Flights
British Airways to use AI in efforts to improve operations
American Airlines Tests New Tech to Help Passengers With Tight Connections During Summer Rush
Flight Diverted After Pregnant Woman on Board Goes into Labor and Delivers Her Baby: Report
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says "this is the most optimistic I've been in my entire career about finally getting the FAA fixed"
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils Plan to Build Brand New, State-of-the-Art Air Traffic Control System
Passenger rushing for next flight can't believe what woman next to her does
Why fuel price crash won’t make flying cheaper
Kristi Noem says travelers without Real ID will still be able to fly after deadline
Frontier Airlines Announces New Routes Launching This Summer, Connecting Baltimore With Chicago O’Hare and Trenton, N.J. With Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Airlines in North America prioritize investments in cyber, AI
The evolution of the airline uniform — a cross check
Boeing's plea deal raises questions about defense contracts
Policy

Boeing's controversial plea deal to settle its criminal charges over the 2018 and 2019 737 MAX crashes could theoretically impact its numerous lucrative military contracts, but no one seems to seriously think it will. The U.S. military is not supposed to engage with companies that have criminal convictions, but the government can waive this restriction.

"DOD will assess the company’s remediation plans and agreement with the Department of Justice to make a determination as to what steps are necessary and appropriate to protect the federal government," Air Force spokesman Maj. Gen Patrick Ryder told reporters. Canada is also reviewing its deal to buy P-8 Poseidons, but the process is continuing.

Boeing agreed to pay a $243.6 million fine and invest at least $455 million in "compliance and safety programs" after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. To avoid criminal proceedings over the certification process for the MAX in 2021, Boeing promised to change its ways, but prosecutors alleged that the company ignored the terms of that deal. These accusations arose when a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines MAX last January, just a few days before the expiry of the three-year probation period attached to the first plea deal agreement.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The first plea deal came after Boeing downplayed the impact of the newly installed Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) on the aircraft’s flight controls to prevent needing a separate type certificate for the model. MCAS was found to be a factor in crashes involving an Ethiopian Airlines MAX in 2019 and a Lion Air plane in 2018, resulting in 346 fatalities.

The families of victims from these crashes launched a strong attack against this latest agreement, calling it a "sweetheart deal" that Boeing will shrug off financially. They were advocating for a $24 billion fine against Boeing and stated that Sunday's arrangement disrespected hundreds of victims and thousands of loved ones they left behind. Catherine Berthet, whose daughter Camille died in the Ethiopian crash, said that this plea deal shows "weakness and manifest contempt for the victims’ families and public interest."

Organizations Included in this History
More News

On June 2, Edelweiss, a Swiss leisure airline, launched its inaugural flight from Zurich to Seattle.

Jun 5, 2025

In early June, Etihad Airways launched two new European destinations, expanding its network to Prague, Czechia, and Warsaw, Poland.

Jun 5, 2025

Around half of the over 1,000 Boeing 757s produced remain in service worldwide.

Jun 5, 2025

Allegiant Air, an ultra-low-cost carrier, has rapidly expanded its operations with the Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft.

Jun 5, 2025

The Airbus A321 and Boeing 757 are both key players in the long-range, high-capacity twin-engine aircraft market.

Jun 5, 2025

Alaska Airlines has announced plans to launch a new direct flight route from Seattle, Washington, to Rome, Italy.

Jun 5, 2025