- author, Crystal Haze
- role, BBC News, Washington
Families of victims of the crashes of two Boeing 737 Max jets have called for prosecution and a $24.8 billion fine for what they call “the worst corporate crime in American history.”
Paul Cassell, an attorney for the families, said the amount was “just and clearly appropriate” given the “enormous human cost” of Boeing’s crimes.
In a 32-page letter seen by the BBC, Mr Cassell said the US government should prosecute those leading the company after two crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed 346 people.
The letter noted that Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun apologized during congressional testimony on Tuesday.
“We apologise for the grief we have caused,” he said, amid jeers from families of the accident victims.
Two 737 Max planes were lost in separate but nearly identical crashes, killing 346 people.
In October 2018, a Lion Air plane crashed into the Java Sea 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 189 people on board.
In March 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed six minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 passengers and crew.
Both crashes were linked to malfunctions in the flight control system.
He also acknowledged that Boeing had taken retaliatory action against whistleblowers, but said the company had “listened to” the employees.
The Justice Department is considering whether to reinstate criminal fraud charges filed against Boeing in 2021 related to two crashes.
The charges had been on hold since the company acknowledged in a settlement that it misled aviation safety regulators about aspects of the 737 Max and promised to create new compliance systems to detect and prevent further wrongdoing.
Prosecutors determined last month that the settlement was violated when a door panel flew off a 737 MAX jet during an Alaska Airlines flight in January, ripping a large hole in the plane’s fuselage during the flight.
The Justice Department has until July 7 to decide whether to reopen the case.
In his letter, Cassell said his clients recommended that the department order that any future fines be used to set up an independent body to monitor the company’s safety and compliance measures.
Family members of those killed in the crash attended a congressional hearing on Tuesday, holding up photos of their loved ones.
“I flew from the UK to Washington, DC to hear firsthand what Boeing’s CEO would tell the Senate and the world about the safety improvements made at the company,” said Zipporah Clear, whose father lost his father in the 2019 crash of a Boeing 737 Max 8 jet.
“I also will continue to pressure the U.S. government to hold Boeing and its executives criminally responsible for the deaths of 346 people. We will not rest until justice is achieved.”
