US District Judge Reed O'Connor has unexpectedly rejected Boeing's proposed guilty plea to fraud charges related to the fatal 737 Max crashes.
The judge's decision is based on the terms for appointing an independent monitor, with a focus on diversity and inclusion criteria set by the Justice Department.
This rejection poses challenges for Boeing's new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, as he works to navigate the company through a prolonged crisis. It also complicates Boeing's efforts to resolve legal issues and restore its reputation in the aviation industry.