U.S. court postpones Boeing trial set for June over crashes
A U.S. federal judge, Reed O'Connor, is currently mulling over an agreement regarding the Boeing 737 MAX 8 legal case that was announced approximately ten days prior. Families have been asked to submit their observations on this settlement by June 18, with Boeing expected to respond by June 25.
Originally, the trial was scheduled to commence on June 23. However, given the judge's delay in approving or rejecting the agreement, it seems that the trial might be rescheduled if the agreement is ultimately denied.
Back in December 2024, Judge O'Connor had already dismissed a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) between Boeing and the Public Ministry, entirely based on formal grounds and not considering the merits.
In March 2025, Judge O'Connor set a trial date for the case, expediting the parties to reach an agreement, which ultimately led to an announcement of the settlement on May 23, 2025.
As part of the agreement, Boeing acknowledged that it worked to "obstruct and impede" the work of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The company will also be shelling out $1.1 billion, with $444.5 million going towards a fund to compensate the families of the victims.
The remainder consists of a $244 million fine and a $455 million budget allocated for enhancing Boeing's internal safety, quality, and compliance programs.
The legal action is connected to the crashes of two 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by Lion Air in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines in March 2019, which claimed the lives of a total of 346 individuals.
The U.S. government chastised Boeing for failing to share some technical aspects of the MCAS anti-stall 'software' with the FAA. Malfunctions in MCAS and lack of appropriate pilot training in the program were reported as the causes behind the two passenger aircraft crashes.
Insights:
The current status of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 legal case has undergone substantial changes. In 2025, the Justice Department struck a deal with Boeing to steer clear of criminal charges. Here are the key aspects:
- Deal Terms: Boeing agreed to pay or invest over $1.1 billion, including $445 million for the families of the crash victims. The Justice Department agreed to dismiss the criminal fraud charges against Boeing.[1][2][5]
- Trial Cancellation: A US federal judge canceled the scheduled trial over the 737 MAX crashes after the agreement was reached.[3]
It's essential to note that while the article mentions May 23, 2023, the recent developments occurred in May and June 2025. However, it's worth mentioning that on July 8, 2024, Boeing had agreed to plead guilty to fraud and pay up to $487 million in a separate settlement.[4]
There is no specific information about an announcement on May 23, 2023, related to the dismissal of charges and the terms mentioned above. The recent resolution focuses on the May and June 2025 agreements.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 legal case, initially scheduled for June 23, 2025, has been canceled following an agreement reached between Boeing and the U.S. government. Under the terms of this agreement, Boeing is expected to pay over $1.1 billion, with a portion going towards compensating victims' families. The U.S. government had previously criticized Boeing for concealing technical details of the aircraft's anti-stall software from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which contributed to the crashes of two 737 MAX 8 planes. This legal case is significant in the realm of general-news, politics, and crime-and-justice, as well as the wider industries of finance, aerospace, and business.
