Boeing Escapes Criminal Charges in Max Crashes

0:00It's March 31st. This is Durham News today, your AI-powered local news. A federal appeals court just shot down a push from dozens of families who lost loved ones and two deadly Boeing 737 Max crashes. The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously on Tuesday that prosecutors didn't break the Crime Victims Rights Act, so the criminal case stays closed. Boeing cut a deal back in 2021 to dodge prosecution by paying nearly $1.1 billion dollars in fines, victim compensation, and safety upgrades. Even after Boeing slipped up on that agreement in 2024, a judge approved a new settlement last November, wiping the charges clean. Families are furious with their lawyer Paul Casell calling the decision badly flawed and saying Boeing escapes accountability for $300, 46 deaths. He claims victims weren't looped improperly during negotiations starting in 2020. His lawyers pointed out over 60 families back the deal.

1:00Dozens more didn't fight it, and the company has shelled out big compensation while. Fixing its safety game, prosecutors say they weighed family input for years before dropping the case to avoid a trial risk. This ruling leaves Boeing and the clear criminally after those 2018 and 2019 crashes from faulty software that nose-dived the planes. This hope it doesn't lead to more tragedy down the line.