The scrutiny surrounding Boeing intensified following a safety incident in January 2024, which prompted renewed investigations into the company's manufacturing quality and safety practices.

While the judge did not dispute the financial penalties proposed in a previous plea deal, which included a fine of up to $487.2 million and investments in safety programs, he focused on the ethics surrounding the selection of compliance monitors.

U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor rejected a plea agreement that would have allowed Boeing to plead guilty to a single felony charge, citing concerns over the influence of diversity policies on monitor selection.

Negotiations between Boeing and the Justice Department have been ongoing, with a previous deadline of April 11, 2025, for a revised plea deal now vacated, allowing the trial to proceed.

Prosecutors have stated they lack sufficient evidence to prove that Boeing's misleading actions directly contributed to the crashes, which has led to the conspiracy charge being the strongest they can pursue against the company.

Recent reports suggest that Boeing is negotiating with the DOJ for potential adjustments to its guilty plea, including the possibility of withdrawing the plea altogether.

A federal judge has set a trial date for June 23 in the U.S. government's conspiracy case against Boeing, stemming from allegations that the company misled regulators about the 737 Max jetliner, which was involved in two fatal crashes that claimed 346 lives.

Sanjiv Singh, representing the families of crash victims, praised the judge's decision and highlighted the importance of accountability in ensuring aviation safety.

Families of the victims criticized the previous plea agreement as a 'sweetheart' deal, expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of harsher penalties for Boeing.

The rejected plea deal included a fine of up to $487.2 million, a commitment of $455 million to enhance safety practices, and three years of probation with external oversight.

Officials from the Trump administration are advocating for stricter regulatory measures against Boeing and the broader aviation industry.

Judge O'Connor has previously characterized Boeing's actions as potentially the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history, underscoring the severity of the case.