Chicago- He lost his life in one of the worst plane crashes in recent years – now his family has received justice. More than six years after the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, aircraft manufacturer Boeing has for the first time been ordered to pay millions of dollars in compensation to the family of one of the crash victims.
A court in Chicago ruled that Boeing must pay Shikha Garg’s family more than $28 million (€24 million). UN advisors were on board the Boeing 737 MAX 8 on March 10, 2019 – the plane crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 157 people on board.
UN employee Shikha Garg (28 †) died in the crash of flight ET302
In addition to the jury’s verdict, the two parties agreed to an out-of-court settlement worth approximately $3.45 million (€3 million). This brings the total payment to just under $36 million (€31 million) – for one family.
The trial no longer addresses the question of fault: Boeing has accepted basic responsibility. The jury focused only on the amount of compensation – and made a clear decision.
At the 2024 trial, relatives showed photos of the victims
The decision stated that the Boeing 737 MAX 8 was designed flawed. The MCAS automatic control system is very problematic. Boeing failed to provide timely and adequate information about potential risks. According to Reuters, Boeing wants to accept the ruling – no appeal is planned.
The accident shocked the world
The crash of flight ET302 en route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi shocked the world. This is the second fatal crash involving a 737 MAX in just a few months – after the Lion Air crash in October 2018.
As a result, all machines of this type were out of use worldwide for almost 20 months. This model is only permitted to restart after extensive retrofitting.
Flight ET 302 crashed to the ground and the aircraft was completely destroyed due to the powerful impact
Although more than 90% of settlements are made out of court with the victims’ families, this verdict was a special step: it was the first time it was determined in a public trial that Boeing was partly responsible for the crash. Further civil and criminal proceedings are ongoing.
For many relatives, this ruling is a breakthrough because it paves the way for compensation procedures that are transparent and do not end behind closed doors.
Plaintiff: “The accident was avoidable”
During the trial, the family’s lawyer explained: the accident could have been prevented. Design errors and lack of information about the MCAS system are the main causes.
This type of machine crashed in 2019. After the fatal crash, a 20-month flight ban was imposed on the Boeing 737 MAX 8.
The central issue in this process: the possible suffering of the victims in the last seconds before the impact. The jury acknowledged evidence that Shikha Garg, like many others, experienced physical pain and suffering.
The defense demanded a much lower payment. Boeing doubts there is evidence of “pre-impact pain and suffering” – that is, the victims were conscious or suffering before impact. The accident happened too quickly to be able to substantiate such an experience.
Even so, the plaintiff won. Previous decisions have allowed such evidence to be included in trials.
As part of the settlement, the company has committed to paying approximately $1.1 billion – for fines, compensation, and measures to improve security and controls.
