In Video: Father of Boeing crash victim wants ‘justice’ for daughter who died
Dramatic Moments in Court: Families of Boeing 737 Crash Victims Seek Justice
Families of the victims of two Boeing 737 plane crashes, which resulted in the loss of 346 lives, are seeking justice in a Texas court. The crashes occurred off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia, and the families are now fighting for Boeing to face criminal prosecution.
A Father’s Plea
A father of one of the victims was in the court today, seeking justice for his loved one. “The least that we want is justice,” he said. “Justice that will make sure that the skies are safe again. And that no other parent would ever lose their loved one through recklessness, through prioritizing profits.”
Prosecutors Initially Charged Boeing with Conspiracy
Prosecutors had initially charged Boeing with conspiracy to commit fraud for allegedly trying to deceive regulators about a flight control system that contributed to the crashes. However, Boeing pleaded guilty about a year ago and agreed to pay over $1 billion to victims’ families and in fines.
New Plea Agreement Raises Outrage
However, a federal judge rejected that deal last December over concerns about who would monitor Boeing’s compliance. Now, the Trump administration’s DOJ has a new plea agreement that drops any criminal charges, leaving only Boeing with a hefty fine. This has led to widespread outrage among the families, who say it’s outrageous after so many lives were lost.
Families Speak Out
Families of the victims took to the stand to share their stories, pleading with the judge to let their families’ struggles be heard. One mother lost her 24-year-old daughter and said, “I cannot forget, and I’m not forgiving. Only if this comes to trial and we will have justice. Then we will be maybe forgiving, 346 lives. That’s a criminal offense. We have to be brought to trial. And even if we lose, for us, that is also justice.”
Next Steps
The judge has not made a decision today in Fort Worth and will issue his decision over the coming weeks. It is presumed that the judge thought this was, in fact, a criminal, corporate crime. The families and lawyers are now waiting to see if there is still a mechanism by which Boeing will have to plead guilty to a felony.
No Comment from Boeing
When asked for a response from Boeing, they refused to comment, stating that they didn’t want to talk until the matter is resolved.
This case highlights the ongoing struggle of families seeking justice for the loss of their loved ones, who lost their lives in the tragic plane crashes.
