A U.S. federal judge has rejected the plea agreement between Boeing and the U.S. government, intended to resolve criminal charges linked to the crashes of two 737 MAX 8 jets in 2018 and 2019 that resulted in 346 deaths. Judge Reed O’Connor criticized the appointment process for an independent monitor, arguing it undermines the court’s role. Families of the victims hailed the decision as a significant victory, with legal representatives anticipating a major renegotiation of the agreement.