Boeing Says Probe Shouldn’t Stall Deal

Boeing Co.’s proposed $16-billion deal to lease as many as 100 aerial refueling tankers to the Air Force should not be held up by inquiries into the aircraft maker’s conduct in an unrelated rocket program, a company official said.

The Justice Department and Air Force are separately investigating whether the company illegally used documents from Lockheed Martin Corp. to beat its rival in 1998 for a majority share of military rocket launches in a new booster program.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate panel that oversees airline regulation and the No. 2 Republican on the Armed Services Committee, wants the Air Force to withhold approval until the probes are finished.

Boeing shares rose 24 cents to $35.23 on the NYSE.