Boeing Plea Deal Rejected Over DEI Concerns in 737 Max Conspiracy Case

Dec 5, 2024, 06:20 PM

A federal judge in the Northern District of Texas has rejected a plea agreement between Boeing Co. and the U.S. Department of Justice related to two fatal 737 Max jet crashes that killed 346 people. The agreement, which would have seen Boeing plead guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and pay a $243 million fine for misleading U.S. regulators, was dismissed by Judge Reed C. O'Connor due to concerns over provisions tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the selection of an independent monitor to oversee Boeing. The judge criticized the Justice Department's approach to using race and diversity in the appointment process, effectively cutting off the court's role in the process.