San Francisco: The US Justice Department said Tuesday that Boeing could be prosecuted in the 737 Max crash that killed 346 people nearly five years ago.
Department officials wrote to a federal court in Texas that Boeing violated contractual obligations that protect it from lawsuits over the accident.
“We believe we have met the terms of this agreement,” Boeing told AFP, adding that it planned to defend itself.
In the letter, US officials said that Boeing violated its obligations under the Deferred Action for Justice Act (DFA) by “failing to establish, implement and implement a compliance and ethics plan to prevent and detect violations of US anti-fraud laws throughout its operations.”
Such violations could lead to prosecution for violating federal laws related to the Boeing crash, according to U.S. Justice officials.
The government is evaluating how to proceed with the matter and has given Boeing a response by June 13.
US officials also plan to consult with the families of those who died in the crashes of Lion Air 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.
“This is a positive first step and it will go a long way for the family,” said Paul Cassell, a lawyer representing the victim’s family.
