In a recent development, the Justice Department has found that Boeing, the aircraft manufacturing giant, violated a settlement agreement related to the fatal crashes involving its 737 Max aircraft. The department's prosecutors conveyed this information to a federal judge on Tuesday, raising the possibility of filing criminal charges against the company.

According to the Justice Department, Boeing failed to implement necessary changes aimed at preventing violations of federal anti-fraud laws, which was a condition of the settlement reached in 2021. Glenn Leon, the head of the fraud section of the Justice Department's criminal division, stated in a letter that the company's non-compliance puts them at risk of prosecution for "any federal criminal violation."

While the determination has clear implications for potential legal action against Boeing, the Justice Department has not yet made its decision on whether to proceed with charges. The government is currently assessing how it will proceed in this matter, as noted in the court filing.

Investigations into the crashes in 2018 and 2019 identified a flight-control system that Boeing had incorporated into the 737 Max without informing pilots or airlines about it. Boeing initially downplayed the significance of the system and only addressed it after the second crash occurred.

The Justice Department conducted its investigation into Boeing, eventually reaching a settlement in January 2021 after secretive negotiations. Under the terms of the agreement, Boeing avoided prosecution for allegedly defrauding the United States by deceiving regulators involved in the approval process for the ill-fated plane. In exchange, the company paid a total of $2.5 billion, which included a $243.6 million fine, a $500 million fund dedicated to compensating victims, and nearly $1.8 billion to airlines whose 737 Max jets were grounded.

Since the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, Boeing has continued to face a multitude of challenges and consequences, including civil lawsuits, congressional investigations, and significant damage to its reputation and business.

The Justice Department will notify the court of its plans no later than July 7, revealing whether it intends to pursue criminal charges against Boeing. The outcome of this potential legal action could have far-reaching implications for the aircraft manufacturer and the aviation industry as a whole.