Senators Urge Justice Dept. to Hold Boeing Executives Accountable for Safety

In a letter, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal criticized the Justice Department after continued episodes with the company’s planes.

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Boeing is in the middle of several federal investigations, including a Justice Department inquiry into an Alaska Airlines incident in January.

Two Democratic senators sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, pressing him to take a tougher approach to Boeing and criminally prosecute the company’s executives for not doing enough to ensure passenger safety on its aircraft.

The letter, from Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, criticized the Justice Department for not doing enough to hold Boeing accountable, as the company continues to grapple with ongoing safety issues, including a January incident in which a panel blew off an Alaska Airlines flight midair.

“Serious safety issues continue to appear with Boeing planes, despite D.O.J.’s past efforts,” the letter states. “In the past six years, Boeing has cycled through three different C.E.O.s, each promising to improve safety at the company. Meanwhile, Boeing machinists, Boeing managers and the National Transportation Safety Board continue to highlight ongoing safety concerns at the company.”

On Sept. 26, the National Transportation Safety Board issued an emergency safety alert for some Boeing planes after learning of a defect that could cause the rudder control system that helps to steer the aircraft to jam.

The warning applies to some of the company’s 737 Max and 737NG jets and stems from the agency’s investigation into a United Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 that experienced “stuck” rudder pedals while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport in February.

In their letter, Ms. Warren and Mr. Blumenthal said that the Justice Department’s “continued refusal to criminally prosecute responsible individuals” had allowed Boeing to engage in a culture “that has promoted short-term profit over passenger safety.”

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