Boeing announced that it has "broadly agreed" to accept responsibility for the 2019 crash of 737 Max in Ethiopia. Subsequently, Boeing will take the responsibility of settling compensation claims of the families of 157 people killed during the accident. Following the Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crash en route Nairobi, a global grounding of the 737 Max had ensued.
The families of the victims have agreed not to seek punitive damages from Boeing, while the aircraft manufacturer accepts blame for the crash and sole responsibility for compensatory damages awarded to be awarded to the victims' families.
“This is a significant milestone for the families in their pursuit of justice against Boeing, as it will ensure they are all treated equitably and eligible to recover full damages under Illinois law while creating a pathway for them to proceed to a final resolution, whether through settlements or trial,” a committee representing most of the victims’ families said in a statement.
Some families had already settled with Boeing, and the agreement covers all but two of the families with outstanding cases.
“Boeing is committed to ensuring that all families who lost loved ones in the accidents are fully and fairly compensated for their loss,” Boeing said in a statement it issued. “By accepting responsibility, Boeing’s agreement with the families allows the parties to focus their efforts on determining the appropriate compensation for each family.”
It has also offered its “deepest condolences” to the families of those who died on the flight in Ethiopia as well as to the families of the 189 people who were killed months earlier in a crash of a 737 Max in Indonesia.
It is to be recalled that the Ethiopia and Indonesia crashes of the 737 Max led to a global ban of the best-selling plane, costing Boeing billions of dollars.
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Source: The New York Times
