Judge Approves DOJ’s Motion to Drop Case Against Boeing

Manufacturer will avoid criminal penalties in connection with two 737 Max crashes.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, November 06, 2025 at 01:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Boeing 737 Max aircraft in storage. [Credit: AirlineGeeeks/William Derrickson]

Key Takeaways:

A federal judge approved the U.S. Justice Department’s request to drop its criminal case against Boeing concerning two fatal 737 Max crashes, despite disagreeing with the decision and stating the non-prosecution agreement (NPA) lacked necessary accountability.
Judge Reed O’Connor explicitly stated he lacked the power to overturn the DOJ’s decision and sided with victims' families, who argued against the deal's inadequacies in ensuring safety and justice for the 346 deaths.
Under the NPA, Boeing admits to conspiring to obstruct an FAA investigation and must pay $1.1 billion (including a criminal penalty and victim funds), along with committing to invest in its quality, compliance, and safety programs.

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A federal judge has signed off on the U.S. Justice Department’s request to drop its criminal case against Boeing in connection with two fatal 737 Max crashes.

Judge Reed O’Connor said Thursday that while he disagrees with the DOJ’s argument that dismissing the case is in the public interest, he does not have the power to overturn the department’s decision. The government’s non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with Boeing, first announced in May, “fails to secure the necessary accountability to ensure the safety of the flying public,” O’Connor added, according to Reuters.