kes Deal to Avoid Criminal Responsibility for 737 Max Crashes A deal between the plane maker and the Justice Department, which was opposed by some of the families of those who died in the crashes, includes paying millions into a victims’ fund. Listen to this article · 4:36 min Learn more Share full article Demonstrators, including some whose relatives died in crashes of Boeing’s 737 Max planes, drew attention during a Senate hearing last June about Boeing’s safety culture.Credit...Eric Lee/The New York Times By Niraj Chokshi May 23, 2025Updated 4:45 p.m. ET Boeing reached a deal with the Justice Department on Friday that would spare the company from taking criminal responsibility for a pair of deadly 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. Under the deal, which was staunchly opposed by many families of the victims of the fatal crashes, Boeing would admit to obstructing federal oversight, pay a fine, contribute to a fund for the families and invest in safety and quality programs. The deal is the latest twist in a yearslong legal saga over the crashes, dating back to the final days of the first Trump administration. It reverses a different deal reached last summer, in which Boeing had agreed with the Justice Department under President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to plead guilty to a felony charge of conspiring to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration. The judge overseeing the case had asked the parties to revise the deal in December, criticizing the process the agreement had laid out for the selection of an independent monitor who would make sure that Boeing was abiding by the deal. Boeing’s admission in the new agreement that it obstructed the F.A.A. would not constitute a guilty plea. “Ultimately, in applying the facts, the law and department policy, we are confident that this resolution is the most just outcome with practical benefits,” the Justice Department said in a statement. “Nothing will diminish the victims’ losses, but this resolution holds Boeing financially accountable, provides finality and compensation for the families and makes an impact for the safety of future air travelers.” The Justice Department floated the possibility of such a deal in a call with the families of victims of the crashes last week, and their lawyers dismissed it as a miscarriage of justice. Boeing declined to comment on the new agreement, which would still need approval of the judge overseeing the case. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe. Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENT