SEATTLE — The families of the 346 people that lost their lives when the Boeing 737 MAX jets crashed in 2018 in Indonesia and 2019 in Ethiopia want the aerospace company to stand trial.
On Friday, May 31, they found out the three options the Department of Justice (DOJ) could choose.
The DOJ could require extending the terms of an already-existing agreement, it could enter into a new agreement or it could prosecute Boeing. This comes after the DOJ claimed Boeing violated the original deal it made with the agency.
In January of 2021, the company agreed to pay $2.5 billion in lieu of criminal charges for the deadly 737 MAX jet crashes.
Nadia Milleron's 24-year-old daughter was on the MAX that crashed in Ethiopia five years ago. She and all the other families have been relentless in fighting for aviation safety.
"The next step in my mind as a victim's family that wants to prevent this from happening to any other family is we have to take them to trial and they need to be held accountable for their actions," said Milleron.
The families want Boeing to stand trial for fraud.
"We want the answer, we want the truth, we want the justice and we want someone to be prosecuted," said Clariss Moore, who lost her daughter.
"There was a lot of frustration in the room from victim families who feel like Boeing has not yet been held fully accountable," said Attorney Mark Lindquist.
Despite their requests, the Department of Justice would not say which option they're leaning toward.
"Very non-committal about what they are going to do next. He kept repeating this was a meeting to update and listen to families," said Lindquist.
Boeing has until June 13 to respond to the DOJ on the issue. In a statement. the company said it believes it honored the terms of the agreement and will engage with transparency.
The Department of Justice said it will decide whether to criminally charge Boeing by July 7.
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