Boeing to pay more than $2.5 billion to settle criminal conspiracy charge over 737 Max
CNBCJUL 2020
Boeing: Lawyer for Families of Crash Victims Slams Deal to Avoid Prosecution
Above: Digital screens display the Boeing logo and the flag of Qatar in Ankara, Turkey on May 14, 2025. Image copyright: Dilara Irem Sancar/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Nothing can make up for the loss of life, but after reviewing the facts, the DOJ believes that making Boeing pay fines and compensation, as well as making it invest in its safety practices, is the most just and practical result, ensuring that the safety of travelers increases.
Establishment-critical narrative
This deal between Boeing and the DOJ is morally repugnant as it deprives the families of those who died of any meaningful justice, including holding those responsible to account for the planes going down in the first place.