A federal judge on Thursday rejected Boeing's plea deal tied to a criminal fraud charge over the fatal 737 Max crashes, citing concerns about the selection process for a government-appointed monitor. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor questioned whether diversity, equity, and inclusion policies would affect the monitor's selection, emphasizing that it should be based solely on competency. Boeing and the Justice Department have thirty days to decide how to proceed. Boeing's plea agreement, which aimed to avoid trial, included a nearly $480 million fine, with the potential for a reduced fine based on prior payments.
