Boeing to face civil trial over 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash
Boeing is set to face its first civil trial arising from the deadly crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019. The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft crash claimed the lives of all 157 people onboard, marking the second fatal accident involving the MAX model in less than five months. This upcoming trial will focus on the Ethiopian Airlines disaster and allegations of negligence against Boeing.
Remaining plaintiffs and potential for settlement
The trial was originally scheduled to feature six plaintiffs. However, all but one have reached a settlement, a person involved in the litigation told AFP. While a court-approved settlement is possible even after proceedings begin, insiders anticipate the case will go to trial. The plaintiffs are family members of Manisha Nukavarapu, an Indian-born medical student who died in the crash.
Boeing's acceptance of responsibility and future trials
Boeing has publicly accepted responsibility for the crashes in civil litigation and in public statements, blaming the design of the MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System). The system malfunctioned in the Ethiopian Airlines crash and a previous Lion Air crash in Indonesia that killed 189 people. Despite the admission, 30 cases are still pending on behalf of 29 victims as of October 22, with another trial due in April 2025 unless all suits are settled beforehand.
Boeing's financial impact and settlements
Boeing has revealed that it has settled over 90% of the cases stemming from the crashes. "Boeing has paid billions of dollars to the crash families and their lawyers in connection with civil litigation," a Boeing attorney said at an October 11 court hearing. The hearing was part of a Department of Justice criminal case over fraud charges related to MAX certification, where Boeing agreed to plead guilty in July as part of a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA).
