US media outlets say Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge in a deal with the Justice Department over two deadly crashes of the 737 Max aircraft.
The Wall Street Journal and others say Boeing is to plead guilty to deceiving air-safety regulators. The crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019 killed 346 people.
The Justice Department had agreed in 2021 to defer prosecution over the case, on condition that Boeing take steps to prevent a recurrence, among other measures.
However, just before the deferred period was to end, safety again became an issue when a 737 Max, operated by Alaska Airlines, suffered a mid-air blowout of a door panel in January.
Under the reported plea deal, Boeing is to pay a criminal fine of 243.6 million dollars and invest in programs to improve compliance and safety measures.
US media say the guilty plea could make it difficult for the American aircraft giant to secure government contracts, including those with the Defense Department.