US judge postpones hearing on dismissal of criminal charges against Boeing

According to Reuters, Boeing contends that the executive branch of the US Government should decide if the case should proceed as criminal fraud conspiracy and asked Judge O’Connor to dismiss objections by families. Despite this, Boeing had previously pleaded guilty under penalty of a $243 million fine in 2024.

Judge O'Connor stated in 2023 that "Boeing's crime may properly be considered the deadliest corporate crime in US history."

The Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) software was directly responsible for both disasters. It malfunctioned due to false readings by a single sensor, causing two jets to crash. An FAA Airworthiness Directive approved design changes in 2020 requiring input from two sensors and allowing pilots to override MCAS if necessary.

The 737 MAX was Boeing's fastest-selling aircraft but faced issues after these incidents. Families called Boeing's original guilty plea a "sweetheart deal," allowing them to avoid full responsibility. Amidst ongoing litigation regarding the MAX 8, certifications for MAX 7 and MAX 10 have been delayed due to engine troubles monitored by FAA and EASA.

Boeing maintains that MCAS software was not developed by outsourced teams despite outsourcing parts of software development and testing.