• Families of crash victims object to a nonprosecution deal with Boeing.
• Justice Department may dismiss criminal charges against Boeing.
• Lawyers argue deal fails to hold Boeing accountable for past actions.
• The case is set for trial starting June 23.
• Boeing already agreed to plead guilty to fraud but now seeks alternative resolution.

Families of some of the 346 individuals killed in two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes plan to formally object to a tentative nonprosecution agreement between Boeing and the U.S. Justice Department. A lawyer representing these families indicated that they would be filing their objections by Thursday, as the Justice Department first outlined this potential deal during a meeting with the victims' families on May 17, according to Reuters and The Jakarta Post.

The Justice Department's tentative agreement would allow Boeing to avoid being branded a convicted felon, a significant concern for the families who have been pressing for accountability. Paul Cassell, the attorney for the families, claimed that the deal "fails to hold Boeing accountable for the 'deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history,'" a sentiment echoed by Judge Reed O'Connor, according to SFGate and India Times.

The pending prosecutor decision comes before an upcoming trial set for June 23, where Boeing faces fraud charges related to misleading regulators. During their discussions, the Justice Department representatives emphasized that the decision on whether to proceed with the nonprosecution agreement or go to trial would only be made after consulting with the families. Many relatives have long sought a public trial and stricter financial penalties for Boeing due to the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia between 2018 and 2019, as highlighted by Reuters and SFGate.

Boeing's past agreement to plead guilty to a previously charged conspiracy fraud assessment has also been complicated by the Justice Department discovering that the company may have violated terms in 2021. Subsequently, discussions regarding a nonprosecution framework are ongoing, which would likely include Boeing paying additional fines and victim compensation, according to The Jakarta Post and India Times.