Boeing Ordered to Pay $35.85 Million to Family of 737 MAX Crash Victim

Post by : Sameer Saifi

A U.S. federal court jury in Chicago has ordered Boeing to pay more than $28 million in damages to the family of Shikha Garg, a United Nations environmental worker who died in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash. The total compensation will amount to $35.85 million, including 26% interest, under a settlement agreement reached on Wednesday morning.

The verdict marks the first court ruling among dozens of lawsuits filed against Boeing after two deadly 737 MAX crashes—in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019—that together killed 346 people.

The lawsuit was filed by Garg’s family following her death in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 disaster, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa in March 2019. The tragedy led to a worldwide grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX fleet for nearly two years.

While Boeing has already settled more than 90% of the cases related to the two crashes, this particular verdict is the first to reach a jury decision. The settlement will provide the Garg family with the full amount of the verdict plus interest, and Boeing has agreed not to appeal the decision.

In a statement, Boeing said it remains “deeply sorry” to all who lost loved ones in the two crashes. A company spokesperson said, “While we have resolved the vast majority of these claims through settlements, families are also entitled to pursue their claims through damages trials in court, and we respect their right to do so.”

The company has already paid billions of dollars in compensation to victims’ families and airlines worldwide. Boeing has also faced multiple investigations and heavy criticism over its handling of safety issues related to the 737 MAX aircraft.

Shanin Specter and Elizabeth Crawford, the attorneys representing the Garg family, called the jury’s decision a step toward justice. “This verdict provides public accountability for Boeing’s wrongful conduct,” they said in a statement.

The lawyers argued that Boeing failed to ensure proper safety checks and ignored crucial warnings before the planes were cleared for flight. The jury’s verdict, they said, was a reminder that powerful corporations must answer for the consequences of their actions.

The 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash was one of the most devastating aviation disasters in recent history. Flight 302 crashed just minutes after takeoff, killing all 157 people onboard. Among them were passengers from 35 countries, including aid workers, students, and diplomats.

Investigations later revealed that both the Ethiopian Airlines crash and the earlier Lion Air crash in Indonesia were linked to a faulty flight control system known as MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System). The software repeatedly forced the aircraft’s nose down, leaving pilots struggling to regain control.

Boeing was heavily criticized for concealing information about the system from airlines and pilots, as well as for pressuring regulators during the aircraft’s certification process.

Since the crashes, Boeing has faced severe financial losses, leadership changes, and global scrutiny. The company grounded its 737 MAX aircraft for nearly 20 months, during which it redesigned the MCAS software, updated pilot training, and made technical improvements to enhance safety.

Current CEO Kelly Ortberg has repeatedly promised that Boeing will rebuild public trust by prioritizing safety. He recently testified before the U.S. Senate about the company’s safety practices following another mid-air emergency involving a new 737 MAX earlier this year.

Although Boeing has reached settlements in most cases, several families are still pursuing individual lawsuits seeking accountability beyond financial compensation. Many relatives of victims say the settlements are not enough to address the loss of lives caused by corporate negligence.

For Shikha Garg’s family, the jury’s decision represents not only financial relief but also a public acknowledgment of Boeing’s responsibility. Legal experts say this verdict could influence other pending cases and pressure Boeing to settle remaining lawsuits more transparently.

The verdict has once again drawn attention to aviation safety standards and the role of manufacturers in ensuring passenger security. Families of crash victims gathered outside the U.S. Senate earlier this year, holding banners with pictures of their loved ones and demanding that Boeing be held fully accountable.

For many, the ruling offers a sense of justice long delayed. “No amount of money can bring back the lives lost,” one relative said. “But this verdict shows that truth and accountability still matter.”

The Ethiopian Airlines crash remains a tragic reminder of the cost of corporate failures in aviation. As Boeing continues to face lawsuits and regulatory challenges, families like the Gargs hope the world never forgets what went wrong—and why it must never happen again.

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