Family members of victims from the Boeing 737 MAX crashes expressed outrage following the announcement that the planemaker has reached a plea deal with the Justice Department to avoid a criminal trial. This agreement pertains to the two crashes that resulted in the deaths of 346 individuals in 2018 and 2019. An attorney representing several victims' families criticized the deal, claiming that it obscures the serious consequences of Boeing's actions through \"crafty lawyering\" between the company and the DOJ. The plea deal, which still requires approval from a federal judge, mandates Boeing to pay a fine of $243.6 million, matching a previous settlement from 2021.

In a separate legal matter, a New Mexico judge ruled that Alec Baldwin's role as a co-producer of the film \"Rust\" is not pertinent to his upcoming trial regarding a fatal shooting incident on set in 2021. This ruling is seen as a significant victory for Baldwin's defense, as it restricts the evidence that can be presented against him. Baldwin is facing a single felony count of involuntary manslaughter after a gun he was holding discharged during rehearsals, resulting in the death of the film's cinematographer. He has pleaded not guilty and could face up to 18 months in prison if convicted. Baldwin was present in court for the pretrial hearing.