Under the terms of the plea agreement, Boeing will pay $487 million in fines, a fraction of what victims' families wanted. This sum includes a doubling of a previous fine under a 2021 agreement, which Boeing is said to have violated. The deal also stipulates that Boeing will operate under the oversight of an independent monitor for three years to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards. Despite this, the plea has been met with significant opposition from the families of the crash victims, who deem the penalties insufficient and the oversight inadequate.

The guilty plea is another blow to Boeing's already tarnished reputation, following a series of safety issues and other legal problems. The company's financial health has been significantly affected, with billions in losses since the crashes. However, Boeing's stock rose slightly after the announcement of the plea deal, indicating investor relief at avoiding more severe consequences, such as the loss of the ability to conduct business with the U.S. government, which accounts for a substantial portion of its revenue.

Beyond the plea, Boeing faces additional legal and safety challenges. These include investigations into other safety incidents, like the blowout of a panel on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX. The FAA has increased oversight, and whistleblowers continue to raise concerns about Boeing's practices. These issues keep Boeing under close scrutiny and raise questions about the effectiveness of its efforts to improve its safety culture and restore public trust.