Boeing criminally charged for lying about 737 Max crashes.

[h0b0]

Boeing has been fined $2.5bn by the US justice department after being charged with fraud and conspiracy. $2.2bn going to compensate the airlines for their loss of income and the remainder going to the families of the 346 people who died. I cant help feel the balance is the wrong way here though.

Also, Boeing's total revenue (pre-COVID) was over $100bn with $12bn profit. This seems a little slap on the wrist rather than punishment for allowing people to travel on planes they knew had a potentially fatal flaw and a secret auto pilot function that could not be turned off. That feature lead to capable pilots fighting the plane until the plane won and crashed.

[Jimbo.]

h0b0 said:

Boeing has been fined $2.5bn by the US justice department after being charged with fraud and conspiracy. $2.2bn going to compensate the airlines for their loss of income and the remainder going to the families of the 346 people who died. I cant help feel the balance is the wrong way here though.

Also, Boeing's total revenue (pre-COVID) was over $100bn with $12bn profit. This seems a little slap on the wrist rather than punishment for allowing people to travel on planes they knew had a potentially fatal flaw and a secret auto pilot function that could not be turned off. That feature lead to capable pilots fighting the plane until the plane won and crashed.

VW got a $2.5Bn fine and people went to jail for telling fibs and selling some dirty cars. Boeing tell more than a few porkies, refuse to cooperate with the authorities and kill 346 people, and get the same fine. America, fk yeah!

[h0b0]

Yes, and do not forget, the VW one was a fine. They had to compensate the owners to the tune of $30bn. If we take the $2.2bn compensation out of the package then Boeing paid $300M. Token gesture because it is an American company.

[marky1]

Jimbo. said:

VW got a $2.5Bn fine and people went to jail for telling fibs and selling some dirty cars. Boeing tell more than a few porkies, refuse to cooperate with the authorities and kill 346 people, and get the same fine. America, fk yeah!

And BP got fined a zillion dollars. Crazy isn’t it.

[Simpo Two]

I thought it was more an 'out of court settlement' to stop them being possibly being fined more.

[normalbloke]

Simpo Two said:

I thought it was more an 'out of court settlement' to stop them being possibly being fined more.

A bribe, you mean.....

[Simpo Two]

normalbloke said:

Simpo Two said:

I thought it was more an 'out of court settlement' to stop them being possibly being fined more.

A bribe, you mean.....

I think that's how the US legal system works. You can pay a smaller amount to get off, or take your chances. A bit like a parking fine here.

[williamp]

Wasnt that a simmilar thint with Max Mosley in the German courts? He paid a large fine to avoid being tried for bribery...??

Anyhow, it seems small compared to others, but large in isolation. I agree that the airlines:victims ratio seems the wrong way

[roadsmash]

h0b0 said:

I cant help feel the balance is the wrong way here though.

346 families each receiving over $6m would be absurd.

[h0b0]

roadsmash said:

h0b0 said:

I cant help feel the balance is the wrong way here though.

346 families each receiving over $6m would be absurd.

In California, wrongful death by defective part averages at $10M.

Edited by h0b0 on Sunday 10th January 02:11

[normalbloke]

roadsmash said:

h0b0 said:

I cant help feel the balance is the wrong way here though.

346 families each receiving over $6m would be absurd.

It’s a good incentive not to do it again though...

[HocusPocus]

So the key decision makers who caused all the deaths walk away untouched by the US criminal justice system. Well the cosy Americans might not feel so smug if the Ethiopians or Indonesians criminally charged the Boeing senior execs responsible and sought their extradition.

[normalbloke]

HocusPocus said:

So the key decision makers who caused all the deaths walk away untouched by the US criminal justice system. Well the cosy Americans might not feel so smug if the Ethiopians or Indonesians criminally charged the Boeing senior execs responsible and sought their extradition.

How are the Ethiopian and Indonesian extradition agreements with the USA currently?

[HocusPocus]

normalbloke said:

HocusPocus said:

So the key decision makers who caused all the deaths walk away untouched by the US criminal justice system. Well the cosy Americans might not feel so smug if the Ethiopians or Indonesians criminally charged the Boeing senior execs responsible and sought their extradition.

How are the Ethiopian and Indonesian extradition agreements with the USA currently?

No treaties in place. However, the Ethiopians did extradite a murder suspect to USA a year go without need for a treaty.

Anyway, the point is victim countries can also use their criminal litigation systems to seek adequate redress. Being wanted and unable to travel abroad without thinking about extradition links will focus the exec minds on their personal responsibilities.

[normalbloke]

HocusPocus said:

normalbloke said:

HocusPocus said:

So the key decision makers who caused all the deaths walk away untouched by the US criminal justice system. Well the cosy Americans might not feel so smug if the Ethiopians or Indonesians criminally charged the Boeing senior execs responsible and sought their extradition.

How are the Ethiopian and Indonesian extradition agreements with the USA currently?

No treaties in place. However, the Ethiopians did extradite a murder suspect to USA a year go without need for a treaty.

Anyway, the point is victim countries can also use their criminal litigation systems to seek adequate redress. Being wanted and unable to travel abroad without thinking about extradition links will focus the exec minds on their personal responsibilities.

I hear what you’re saying, however extradition only ever seems to work one way with US citizens.