A federal court in Chicago has ordered Boeing to pay over $28 million in damages to the family of a United Nations environmental worker who died in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash. The verdict is the first in a series of lawsuits filed following the crash, which killed 157 people, and another in Indonesia in 2018 that claimed 189 lives. The total death toll from both crashes is 346.
The jury awarded the family of Shikha Garg $10 million for grief, $10 million for her pain and suffering, and additional compensation. Garg’s widower, Soumya Bhattacharya, expressed acceptance of the verdict, stating that it was “absolutely acceptable” after a jury trial. Boeing has expressed regret over the accidents, with a spokesperson saying the company is “deeply sorry” for the losses.
The lawsuits stem from the March 10, 2019, crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which occurred six minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa. Garg, a consultant for the United Nations Development Program, was traveling to Nairobi for a UN Environment Assembly. She had married just three months earlier and had planned to travel with her husband, who canceled his flight at the last minute due to a meeting.
During the trial, Boeing accepted responsibility for the crash and acknowledged the need to pay damages to Garg’s survivors. However, the company’s attorney contested the extent of Garg’s suffering before her death. The plaintiff’s attorney, Shanin Specter, emphasized the loss of Garg’s potential and the grief experienced by her husband, who described her as a “brilliant” young professional studying renewable energy.
The verdict is significant as it sets a precedent for other lawsuits related to the 737 MAX crashes. Boeing has already reached dozens of civil settlements with family members of victims from both crashes. The company has acknowledged its responsibility and expressed remorse, but the trial highlighted the ongoing legal battles over compensation for the victims’ families.
The case has drawn attention to the need for accountability and transparency in the aviation industry. The crashes led to the grounding of the 737 MAX fleet worldwide and prompted regulatory scrutiny of Boeing’s safety practices. As the legal proceedings continue, the families of the victims and the aviation industry await the outcome of further trials and settlements.