Jury clears Boeing in 737 MAX fraud lawsuit

​Boeing was found ​not guilty of hiding ‌safety problems ​with 737 MAX jets sold to LOT Polish Airlines last decade, ‌a jury ruled Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle. LOT had accused Boeing of defrauding it by ‌withholding a critical change to the popular single-aisle jet's ‌flight-control systems. The airline was seeking $153 million in ⁠damages that it said resulted from the grounding. After a two-week ​trial, the jury members deliberated for three hours.

​Boeing was found ​not guilty of hiding ‌safety problems ​with 737 MAX jets sold to LOT Polish Airlines last decade, ‌a jury ruled Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

LOT had accused Boeing of defrauding it by ‌withholding a critical change to the popular single-aisle jet's ‌flight-control systems. The change was linked to two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that led to the ⁠jets ​being grounded ⁠around the world for 20 months. The airline was seeking $153 million in ⁠damages that it said resulted from the grounding.

After a two-week ​trial, the jury members deliberated for three hours. “We ⁠are gratified by the jury’s verdict in our favor today," a ⁠Boeing ​spokesperson said.

LOT issued a statement acknowledging the outcome but leaving room for an appeal. "As the ⁠legal process may not yet be concluded, LOT will ⁠not comment ⁠further on the details of the proceeding at this stage," the company said.