US judge cites diversity provision in rejecting Boeing plea deal over 737 Max crashes

Plane giant's agreement to plead guilty to fraud after two jet crashes was called sweetheart' deal by relatives of victims

A US federal judge on Thursday rejected plane giant Boeing's agreement to plead guilty to fraud after two fatal crashes of its 737 Max passenger jets, faulting a diversity and inclusion provision in the deal regarding the selection of an independent monitor to audit the company's compliance practices.

Boeing and the US justice department now have 30 days to update the court on how they plan to proceed in the case, Judge Reed C O'Connor of the northern district of Texas ordered.