Boeing’s Failed Plea Deal: What Happens Next

‘A weak plea deal will do nothing to effectuate major change within the company,’ Applebaum said.

The Boeing logo is displayed at the company's factory in Renton, Wash., on Sept. 24, 2024. Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo

News Analysis

Months after the Department of Justice (DOJ) offered Boeing a plea deal to avoid criminal fraud charges, a U.S. judge threw a curveball in the case, rejecting the deal after taking issue with a “diversity and inclusion” provision in selecting a monitor to supervise the company’s safety practices, along with how the court would participate in that process.