SHEFFIELD, MA (NEWS10) -- In a landmark development following years of legal scrutiny and public outcry, aerospace giant Boeing has accepted a deal to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge linked to the tragic crashes of two 737 MAX jets in 2018 and 2019, which claimed the lives of 346 individuals.
Nadia Milleron, whose daughter Samya Stumo was among those killed aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, voiced poignant criticism of Boeing's legal settlement. She remarked, "It doesn't even mention the human beings that died. It's just a plea deal to a fraud against the US government."
The crashes of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Lion Air Flight 610, occurring within months of each other, spotlighted critical safety issues with Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft. Milleron asserted, "Do you know what would happen to a human being who killed 346 people? They would not be able to select their own monitor. They would not be free. The executives that made these decisions inside Boeing should be incarcerated."
Initially, in 2021, Boeing avoided prosecution on charges of defrauding the US government by agreeing to pay a fine and undergo a period of corporate probation. However, a subsequent incident involving an Alaska Airlines jet prompted the Justice Department to reopen its investigation earlier this year.
Further scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed significant flaws in Boeing's 737 MAX production line, failing 33 out of 89 conducted tests. Milleron highlighted ongoing concerns, stating, "There are so many structural problems with the plane due to defective manufacturing."
In addition to pleading guilty to a felony charge, Boeing has consented to pay an additional $240 million fine. Milleron expressed skepticism over the significance of the financial penalty, stating, "That's not significant. Boeing is used to paying fines. That's how they roll."
For Milleron and other families who lost loved ones in the crashes, justice remains elusive. "Justice is if we fix the problem and also the executives that made bad decisions on purpose and they knew what they were doing, they should go to jail," she emphasized.
Despite the plea deal, Milleron and other advocates are determined to continue their fight for accountability. "If the judge allows the plea deal, we'll go back to the Fifth Circuit," Milleron affirmed, underscoring their commitment to pursue justice. "They said if there's a decision made in contradiction of public safety, you guys are welcome to come back to us."
As Boeing navigates the legal fallout from the 737 MAX disasters, the resilience and resolve of victims' families like Nadia Milleron serve as a poignant reminder of the human cost and ongoing quest for accountability in aviation safety.
