A federal court in Chicago has ordered Boeing to pay over $28 million in damages to the family of Shikha Garg, a United Nations environmental worker who died in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash. This verdict marks the first in a series of lawsuits filed in the wake of the crash, which claimed the lives of 157 people, alongside another incident in Indonesia in 2018 that resulted in 189 fatalities. The combined death toll from both crashes stands at 346.
The jury awarded Garg’s family $10 million for grief, another $10 million for her pain and suffering, along with additional compensation. Garg’s widower, Soumya Bhattacharya, expressed his acceptance of the verdict, stating that it was “absolutely acceptable” following the jury trial. Boeing has conveyed its regret over the accidents, with a spokesperson expressing that the company is “deeply sorry” for the losses incurred.
The lawsuits stem from the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10, 2019, which occurred just six minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa. Garg, a consultant for the United Nations Development Program, was en route to Nairobi for a UN Environment Assembly. She had married only three months prior and had intended 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 obligation 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, highlighted the loss of Garg’s potential and the grief experienced by her husband, who described her as a “brilliant” young professional studying renewable energy.
This verdict is significant as it sets a precedent for other lawsuits related to the 737 MAX crashes. Boeing has already reached numerous civil settlements with the families of victims from both incidents. While the company has acknowledged its responsibility and expressed remorse, the trial underscored the ongoing legal battles over compensation for the victims’ families. The case has drawn attention to the need for accountability and transparency within the aviation industry.
The crashes led to the grounding of the 737 MAX fleet worldwide and prompted increased regulatory scrutiny of Boeing’s safety practices. As legal proceedings continue, the families of the victims and the aviation industry await the outcomes of further trials and settlements.
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