Boeing Co. is in discussions with the U.S. Department of Defense to retain its government contracting business, according to people familiar with the matter. The company previously agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges related to the fatal crashes of two 737 Max jets. According to CCTV news, United Airlines confirmed that in the early morning of July 8, local time, a tire of an American Boeing 757 passenger plane fell off when it took off from Los Angeles International Airport.
It is reported that no material damage or casualties have been reported in this accident. United said in a statement that the plane's tires had been recovered and the investigation was ongoing.
A Pentagon spokesman said Monday that the Defense Department will evaluate the plea agreement and related matters to "determine what steps are necessary and appropriate to protect the federal government."
Boeing's guilty plea may have called into question the viability of such contracts. Boeing's defense, space and security unit accounted for about a third of the company's total revenue last year.
Earlier on Monday, Boeing agreed to a deal with the Justice Department and pleaded guilty in two 737 MAX criminal cases. The penalties Boeing accepted include paying a fine of approximately US$244 million and committing to investing at least US$455 million in compliance rectification and safety specification improvements over the next three years.