Victim Compensation: Boeing pledges $100 million to those affected by 737 Max crashes

July 5, 2019:

The families of some victims of the crashes have filed numerous lawsuits against the company & are requesting millions of dollars in damages.

Boeing said Wednesday it would allocate $100 million to help the families & communities affected by the recent crashes of two of its 737 Max jets.

The move was among the most overt acknowledgment of Boeing’s responsibility in the crashes, which were caused in part by a malfunctioning anti-stall system on the new jets. It will also add to the company’s mounting costs as it faces lawsuits from victims’ families, investigations by federal authorities & calls for compensation from airlines.

“We at Boeing are sorry for the tragic loss of lives in both of these accidents, & these lives lost will continue to weigh heavily on our hearts & on our minds for years to come,” the chief executive of Boeing, Dennis A. Muilenburg, said. “The families & loved ones of those on board have our deepest sympathies, & we hope this initial outreach can help bring them comfort.” The families of some victims of the crashes have filed numerous lawsuits against the company & are requesting millions of dollars in damages.

Some families of the victims of Lion Air Flight 610, which crashed after taking off from Indonesia in October, were pressured to sign settlement agreements that barred them from suing Lion Air or Boeing.

Boeing said the $100 million investment would be made over multiple years & that its employees would be able to contribute funds as well, which the company would match through this year.

The money will be used to “support education, hardship & living expenses for impacted families, community programs, & economic development in impacted communities,” the company said. Boeing said it would work with local governments & nonprofit organizations to distribute the funds. The Max remains grounded four months after the crash in Ethiopia. Boeing is working to develop a software update & gain approval from aviation regulators but has faced numerous delays. Last week, the timetable was pushed back yet again after the Federal Aviation Administration discovered a new problem with Boeing’s emergency procedures.

The delays have caused the three carriers in the United States that fly the Max — American Airlines, United Airlines & Southwest Airlines — to cancel flights into September & October. The airlines have already canceled thousands of flights & incurred significant costs related to storing & maintaining their grounded jets. They are expecting compensation from Boeing.

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