>> This is a key weekend for Boeing, the justice department, and hundreds of families. The U.S. Government is waiting to see if nature airplane manufacturer Boeing excessive steel to plead guilty to criminal fraud in connection with deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019. They still have -- killed 346 people. Boeing would have to agree to an external monitor. The stop short of imposing more serious criminal charges and penalties that some have asked for. The company is supposed to decide this weekend whether to accept the deal or go to trial. We are joined by someone whose father was killed in the 2019 crash. Welcome and thank you for being with us. We don't know what Boeing will do but what is your view? You want to see them accept the plea deal? >> At this point the question is what whether we want to see matters. As the family's. I think we would've wanted the plea deal not to be offered to them in the first place. So we could go to trial. Hopefully there would be a hope of justice. I do not expect them not to plead guilty because I do not think any deal can get sweeter than this deal. They have come to an agreement on the extension of the previous deal. >> Tommy white think it was a mistake for the department of justice to offer this deal in the first place? >> When a corporation is charged with death and murder of hundreds of people and charged with fraud to begin with and you are given a second chance because they have reached their agreement that they said they would adhere to, you would think they would come down on them a lot harder and actually look to hold into account not just for failing to comply with the agreement but also for the death of hundreds of people. It is ridiculous that we are having this conversation. >> You are referring to the previous deal to agreement that was reached between the doj and Boeing in which they paid a fine and has some terms that were meant to follow for three years. This is a new deal with what some lawyers are arguing is a more serious criminal charges they would be pleading guilty to. Some of the lawyers say this is better than nothing. Do you accept that argument? >> I think nothing on top of nothing is still nothing. The death of these people goes unrecognized by these deals. The families are not recognized as victims. The fact that they still have the opportunity to select their independent monitors, which allows them to self regulate. For me to say that that is better than nothing, nothing on top of nothing is still nothing. >> I know that you have so many others have been fighting for the last five years. I wonder if you think that if they accept this deal, is there a next step for you? Do you have any other options moving forward? >> At times it does not feel like we have any other options moving forward. I know the families will not relent. The first deal completely disregarded us. What I know is where there is a well, there is a way. One thing we have is tons of will to make sure this does not become something else that is stuck under a rock or it does not happen to other families. We know if there is an avenue to appeal, we will appeal to whoever we need to if we have to go to the supreme court. >> We know there are 346 stories behind each of the lives lost. Tell us a little bit about what you want to know about your father and what the last two years have been like without him. >> When you say 346 people, it was noxious that many lives messed up by this. It was every other life attached to this. I have watched friends get married, buy houses, going to the careers. While I am losing sleep over when his next crash going to happen? Watching Boeing go Scott free for the death of my father, who was an incredible man. It is the purest souls were on this plane. Everybody on there, there -- their family members talk about their mission to go serve in Kenya or provide medicine or go to intern for the U.N. There were people doing amazing things. They were selfless humanitarians on their way to go serve the world. The selfishness of a company like Boeing has robbed them and thousands of lives that are connected to them of what they would've brought to this world. It is even difficult trying to think straight and speak straight sometimes because it is like the world stopped moving. One of the most heartbreaking things is looking at the family members who have lost their children and knowing that they will never get to see them learn how to walk, go to school, they will never walk them down the aisle for celebrate these milestones. The thought of other people being in our position is enough to keep us going. The people who were lost were all remarkable souls. My dad would go to the end of the Earth for me. That gives me the fire to continue to go to the end of the Earth not just for him but for the next people. >> Thank you so much for sharing your father's story. >> Thank you. >> We have a standing request into Boeing for an interview with the CEO. Let's get some more context. What it could mean for the larger industry. You heard the frustration for these families is so real as they seek justice. How did this plea deal end up being offered by the department of justice to Boeing in the first place? >> It is heartbreaking listening to that. Our hearts go out to those families as they tried to find some kind of justice in the midst of this horrible tragedy. The fact is if you look at history, the chances of criminal charges against individuals at Boeing prevailing in court is not great. If you look at the one and only company in U.S. Is three charged with capital charges, they provided oxygen canisters on a flight in 1996. The company faced manslaughter and third-degree murder charges in Florida. The charges were dropped. A fine was paid which actually became a donation and the company pled no contest. The department of justice would say that this is a better way to ensure that Boeing maintains its game on safety. There will be a monitor. There will be a mandatory board of directors meeting with the families. They will have to make investments in safety. Hopefully that will create real-world changes. >> Is the company likely to accept the plea deal. If so, what happens then? >> It is a take it or leave it deal. A federal judge is having to approve it or tweak it or modify it. The company faced the uncertainty of a trial. Reputational problems. And the fact that this deal indicates no charges will be levied against individuals. The biggest customer for Boeing is the federal government. This allows them to continue to do both -- business with the federal government. >> I have to ask, because as reported we do not often see that these investigations are criminalized. This seems to be different. Why? >> The aviation industry is built around the idea of making things safer. Think about aviation safety. They are afraid that it would hinder the ability to make a nation safer. Sometimes real decisions have to be made quickly to fix it from them of the problems with an aircraft. The fact that there was not candor on their part may have ultimately led to that second trash. It is too bad that we have to be in this position. >> Our aviation correspondent. Thank you for speaking with us. >> No problem. ♪♪
