Quick Summary:
BoeingCrashVerdict as a U.S. jury awards $20 million to the family of Shikha Garg, a victim of the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash, marking the first verdict among dozens of lawsuits filed after two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people.
A federal jury in Chicago has awarded $20 million to the family of Shikha Garg, one of the 157 victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash in 2019. The verdict marks the first trial outcome among numerous lawsuits filed against Boeing following the two deadly 737 MAX crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia that claimed a combined 346 lives.
The Verdict
After about two hours of deliberation, the jury awarded $10 million for grief, $10 million for pain and suffering, and additional compensation to Garg’s estate.
Attorneys representing Bhattacharya had sought between $80 million and $230 million, while Boeing’s legal team proposed $11.95 million in damages.
Boeing’s Response
Boeing expressed deep regret over the fatal accidents, reiterating its condolences to the victims’ families.
The company has previously accepted responsibility for the Ethiopian Airlines crash and acknowledged its obligation to compensate victims’ families.
Courtroom Proceedings
During closing arguments, Boeing attorney Dan Webb addressed the jury directly, emphasizing that the trial was about compensation, not punishment.
Webb also turned to Bhattacharya in court to personally express Boeing’s apology.
The jury’s decision followed testimony from both sides, including debates over the extent of Garg’s suffering before her death.
The Victim: Shikha Garg
Shikha Garg, a consultant for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), was traveling to Nairobi for a UN Environment Assembly when the crash occurred just six minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa.
She had married three months earlier and was supposed to travel with her husband, who canceled his flight at the last minute due to a work meeting.
In his closing statement, plaintiff attorney Shanin Specter highlighted Garg’s potential and the profound loss experienced by her husband.
Broader Context
The Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 tragedy, along with the Lion Air Flight 610 crash in 2018, led to the global grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX fleet and widespread scrutiny of the company’s safety practices.
While Boeing has settled most of the civil cases, the Garg verdict sets a legal precedent for remaining lawsuits still pending in U.S. courts.
The outcome underscores the ongoing legal and reputational challenges Boeing faces as it continues to rebuild trust in its aircraft and corporate accountability.