Boeing Reaches Settlements with Families of Ethiopian Airlines Crash Victims

Boeing has reached settlements with the families of three victims who died in the March 2019 crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, one of two fatal accidents involving the 737 MAX that led to the global grounding of the aircraft. The settlements relate to the deaths of Mercy Ngami Ndivo, Abdul Jalil Qaid Ghazi Hussein, and Nasrudin Mohammed, all of whom had ties to Kenya. The families were represented by Chicago-based attorney Robert Clifford, although details of the settlement agreements have not been made public.

The 737 MAX crashes, which occurred in October 2018 and March 2019, resulted in the loss of 346 lives and were linked to a flawed automated flight-control system. The subsequent grounding of the jet lasted 20 months and cost Boeing over $20 billion in compensation and related expenses. With these latest settlements, Boeing has now resolved the majority of civil lawsuits linked to the two crashes.

The Ethiopian Airlines crash and the Lion Air crash, which occurred just five months prior, were both tied to the same flawed system. Investigations into the crashes revealed that a combination of technical and procedural failures contributed to the accidents. The grounding of the 737 MAX had significant implications for the aviation industry, with airlines and regulators around the world taking steps to ensure the safety of passengers.

While Boeing has made progress in resolving the legal claims related to the crashes, the company still faces regulatory and legal challenges as it works to rebuild trust in the safety of its aircraft. The settlements with the families of the Ethiopian Airlines crash victims mark an important step towards closure, but further issues may still emerge as the company continues to address concerns about the 737 MAX. As the aviation industry continues to evolve, Boeing’s efforts to prioritize safety and transparency will be closely watched by regulators, airlines, and passengers around the world.