The SEC alleges that, following an October 2018 crash of a Lion Air 737 Max jet that killed 189 people, Boeing and Muilenburg knew that part of the plane’s flight control system posed an ongoing safety concern yet told the public that the 737 Max was safe to fly.
After a March 10, 2019 fatal 737 Max crash, the SEC alleges that Boeing and Muilenburg knowingly misled the public about “slips” and “gaps” in the certification process of that flight control system.
Boeing agreed to pay a $200 million settlement, and Muilenburg agreed to pay $1 million.
The fines, though large, pale in comparison to the financial hit Boeing has taken over the years because of the 737 Max.
Shares of Boeing (BA) fell more than 3% Thursday but rose slightly in afterhours trading following the SEC’s announcement.