Because of their deception, the agency published an important document that lacked information about MCAS, , a critical aircraft part that affected the flight control system of the 737 Max airplane.
In a statement, DOJ Criminal Division Acting Assistant Attorney General David Burns said the tragic crashes of both 737 Max airplanes “exposed fraudulent and deceptive conduct” by Boeing’s employees.
According to Burns, the company’s “employees chose the path of profit over candor by concealing material information from the FAA concerning the operation of its 737 Max airplane and engaging in an effort to cover up their deception.”
He added that the DPA “holds Boeing accountable for its employees’ criminal misconduct, addresses the financial impact to Boeing’s airline customers, and hopefully provides some measure of compensation to the crash-victims’ families and beneficiaries.”
On the other hand, U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox for the Northern District of Texas said, “The misleading statements, half-truths, and omissions communicated by Boeing employees to the FAA impeded the government’s ability to ensure the safety of the flying public. This case sends a clear message: The Department of Justice will hold manufacturers like Boeing accountable for defrauding regulators – especially in industries where the stakes are this high.”
