WASHINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Two U.S. senators

criticized the Justice Department's plea deal with Boeing ( BA )

struck in July and said the government should take action

against the planemaker's executives "responsible for safety

failures," according to a letter seen by Reuters.

Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal

in a letter dated Wednesday to the Department of Justice said

the government had failed to hold Boeing ( BA ) accountable for a

series of safety issues in recent years.

"It is past time for DOJ to take action against corporate

executives at Boeing ( BA ) who are r esponsible for putting

passengers and workers at risk in violation of federal laws and

regulations," the letter said.

Boeing ( BA ) declined to comment. The Justice Department confirmed

it had received the letter and declined to comment.

In July, the planemaker finalized an agreement with the DOJ

to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud the Federal Aviation

Administration and to pay up to $487 million after breaching a

2021 deferred prosecution agreement and to face three years of

oversight from an independent monitor.

The Justice Department said Boeing ( BA ) allowed potentially risky

work at its factories and did not ensure key airplane

recordkeeping was accurate or complete.

"For too long, corporate executives have routinely escaped

prosecution for criminal misconduct," the senators wrote. "This

coddling comes at the expense of customer and worker safety, and

it must end. We therefore urge you to carefully review the

behavior and potential culpability of Boeing's ( BA ) executives."

Last week, U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor said he would

hold a hearing on Oct. 11 to consider objections from relatives

of some of the 346 people killed in two Boeing 737 MAX

crashes.

The senators said "the combination of a relatively small

fine coupled with a toothless commitment to improve aircraft

safety has proven insufficient to effect real change at the

company."

They added "a number of Boeing ( BA ) aircraft safety failures have

occurred since the fatal 737 MAX crashes, raising continued

concern about Boeing's ( BA ) top-down culture that prioritizes

production speed over passenger safety."

In 2021, a former chief technical pilot for Boeing ( BA ) was

charged with deceiving the FAA about a key flight control system

in the 737 MAX. A jury found him not guilty in 2022.

Last week, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker told Congress his

agency will "expeditiously provide notice, in real time, of any

activities that may be criminal so that DOJ can take any action

they deem appropriate."

The Justice Department in August urged O'Connor to accept

the deal it says "is a strong and significant resolution that

holds Boeing ( BA ) accountable and serves the public interest."