Boeing faces trial over Ethiopian Airlines crash as families seek justice

In Ethiopia, a tragic airline disaster occurred on March 10, 2019, when an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, resulting in the death of all 157 passengers and crew onboard. Since then, numerous lawsuits have been filed against Boeing, with relatives of 155 victims seeking redress for wrongful death and negligence. The first civil trial is set to take place in Chicago, highlighting the prolonged legal battles faced by families who have been waiting for justice for years. As of now, multiple families have settled their claims, but about 18 complaints remain open against Boeing. The relatives of the victims have endured a lengthy legal process since the crash, which followed a similar tragedy involving a Lion Air flight in Indonesia in October 2018. Both incidents raised significant concerns regarding the safety of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, leading to congressional hearings and grounding of the entire MAX fleet for more than 20 months. Many family members express a desire for accountability, while the ongoing discussions hint that settlements could still occur as the trial date approaches. The recent settlements for Antoine Lewis and Darcy Belanger represent a small fraction of the total lawsuits initiated by victim families. Lewis, a U.S. Army Captain, was on military leave and had aspirations of establishing a logistics business in Africa. Belanger, who was attending a UN conference, was a dedicated environmental advocate. Their families have now received confidential settlements, which provide them some closure but cannot compensate for their profound losses. While Boeing has faced significant legal repercussions, including a potential criminal trial related to these crashes, the company continues to navigate complex legal issues with various plaintiffs. The trial is anticipated to commence with jury selection focusing on the remaining cases, with any unresolved matters pushing forward towards additional court dates in the coming months. Families affected by these tragedies remain hopeful that the legal proceedings will yield a sense of justice and accountability from the aviation giant.