Boeing has reached a criminal fraud conspiracy plea deal concerning the tragic 737 MAX 8 jet crashes that claimed 346 lives. By pleading guilty, Boeing avoids legal charges relating to defrauding the FAA's Aircraft Evaluation Group about the safety evaluations of the Boeing 737 MAX planes. This agreement follows a previous deal in 2021 with the Department of Justice to implement safety changes after the fatal crashes. As a part of the new settlement, Boeing is fined $243.6m and commits to investing over $450m in compliance and safety measures over the next three years. The company's board will also meet the crash victims' families, with the formal filing of the agreement scheduled for July 19. The aerospace giant has opted for this plea deal to avoid the expenses and reputation damage that a criminal trial would entail. The families of crash victims are critical of the agreement, seeking accountability and prosecution of corporate leaders. Boeing's recent technical issues, including incidents involving various aircraft models, add to its challenges. The company faces additional scrutiny and compliance measures as part of the plea agreement, paving the way for a significant probationary period.