Boeing chief admits taking part in contract conspiracy

A former US Air Force official who became a top executive at Boeing today admitted conspiring to help the aviation giant obtain a multi-billion pound Pentagon contract.

Darleen Druyun, 56, now faces a maximum five year prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy in a Washington court.

“I deeply regret my actions and I want to apologise,” she said, her voice breaking slightly.

Druyan was an Air Force procurement officer before becoming a vice president at Boeing.

She and former Boeing chief financial officer Michael Sears were the subject of a federal grand jury investigation into the Air Force’s plan to acquire 100 refuelling tankers from the Chicago-based jet maker.

European plane maker Airbus was also seeking the contract.