Global

Boeing Faces Renewed Scrutiny As Families Insist On Justice For 2019 737 Max Crash Victims

Government officials in Washington convened with approximately a dozen family members of individuals who perished in the 2019 Ethiopian Boeing 737 Max crash who are demanding the Justice Department to revive criminal charges against the company.

In 2021, Boeing reached a settlement that allowed it to avoid prosecution for allegedly deceiving regulators who approved the Max.

While Boeing has reached undisclosed settlements with the families of passengers who died in the crash, relatives of those affected by the Ethiopia incident persist in urging the Justice Department to pursue criminal action against the company in a federal district court in Texas, where the settlement was filed.

Officials from the US Department of Justice informed relatives on Wednesday that they are still deliberating on the issue.

Following the meeting, family members convened a press conference to express their disappointment with the Department of Justice. Zipporah Kuria, whose father Joseph Kuria perished in the crash, remarked, “Today’s meeting with the DOJ, has left me quite disheartened,” said Zipporah Kuria, who lost her father Joseph Kuria in the crash. “It’s not about justice anymore, It’s not about the miscarriage of justice for us anymore. It’s about the public safety.”

Paul Cassell, legal counsel for the families, pledged to “keep fighting” if the Justice Department moves to dismiss charges against Boeing this summer. He criticized the Justice Department for allegedly favoring Boeing, stating, “It appears to us that the Justice Department is continuing to give a wealthy, powerful, well connected corporation benefits than any other defendant in the criminal justice system would never get. If the Justice Department moves to dismiss the charges against Boeing this summer, we will fight them at every opportunity.”

Nadia Milleron, whose daughter Samya Stumo died in the crash, described the meeting as emotional, noting the frustration and anger expressed by attendees. Milleron asserted that the Justice Department is neglecting substantial evidence against Boeing.

“People are angry. People are shouting. People are starting to talk over other people,” said Milleron, who watched online from her home in Massachusetts while her husband attended in person. Relatives believe the Justice Department is “overlooking a mountain of evidence against Boeing. It’s mystifying,” she said.

According to Milleron, Glenn Leon, head of the fraud section of the Justice Department’s criminal division, indicated that the agency could extend its review beyond this summer, pursue a trial against Boeing for deceiving regulators, or seek dismissal of the charge. However, he made no firm commitments.

Meanwhile, Boeing executives have been compelled to prioritize safety over financial matters since an incident in January involving a door plug blowing out of a Boeing 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight, resulting in a sizable hole in the aircraft.

This setback has interrupted Boeing’s apparent progress in recovering from the two fatal Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, which claimed 346 lives in Indonesia and Ethiopia, respectively.

Melissa Enoch

Follow us on:

Melissa Enoch

Recent Posts

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour: Commercialisation Of GMO Seeds Can Take Away Nigeria’s Food Sovereignty, Cause Health Issues

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has condemned the commercialisation of GMO seeds, warning of threats to Nigeria’s food…

13 hours ago

Usyk Defeats Fury on Points in Riyadh to Retain Heavyweight Championship Title

Oleksandr Usyk has secured victory over Tyson Fury in Riyadh, successfully defending his heavyweight championship…

18 hours ago

Albania to Ban TikTok for a Year After Schoolboy’s Death Sparks Concerns

Albania plans a one-year TikTok ban from January after a schoolboy’s death sparks concerns over…

21 hours ago

Suspect Remanded in Custody Over Deadly Attack at German Christmas Market

A suspect accused of killing five people by driving into a crowded Christmas market in…

21 hours ago

US Fighter Jet ShotDown in Red Sea ‘Friendly Fire’ Incident Amid Heightened Tensions

A US Navy F/A-18 Hornet was mistakenly shot down over the Red Sea by the…

22 hours ago

NNPC, Dangote Refinery Slash Petrol Prices to N899 Per Litre Amid Rising Competition

NNPC has reduced petrol ex-depot price to N899 per litre, sparking competition with Dangote Refinery…

22 hours ago