Boeing Ordered to Pay $28.45 Million to Family of Indian Victim in First 737 MAX Crash Trial

The Ethiopian Airlines crash of March 2019 resulted in 346 fatalities.

In the United States, a jury delivered a verdict on Wednesday in the first civil trial regarding a fatal Boeing 737 MAX crash, determining that Boeing must pay $28.45 million to the family of an Indian newlywed who perished in the accident.

The lawsuit concerns Shikha Garg from New Delhi, who lost her life in the Ethiopian Airlines crash in March 2019, one of two deadly MAX crashes that collectively claimed 346 lives.

Following approximately two hours of deliberation, a jury in Chicago's federal court awarded compensation that included $10 million for grief, $10 million for Garg's suffering, and additional damages.

Soumya Bhattacharya, Garg's widower, told AFP, "We happily accept the verdict. We came here for a jury trial and it's absolutely acceptable."

Boeing expressed remorse about the tragic accidents, with a spokesperson stating, "We are deeply sorry to all who lost loved ones on Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302."

The spokesperson added, "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."

Bhattacharya's attorneys had argued for compensation between $80 and $230 million, while Boeing's legal team proposed $11.95 million.

The litigation stems from the March 10, 2019 flight that crashed six minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa en route to Nairobi, resulting in the deaths of all 157 passengers and crew.

Garg's case was the first to proceed to trial after Boeing reached numerous civil settlements with family members from both the Ethiopian Airlines crash and the 2018 Lion Air 737 MAX crash.

Boeing had acknowledged responsibility for the Ethiopian Airlines disaster and recognized its obligation to compensate Garg's survivors. However, the trial focused on determining the appropriate amount, with Boeing's attorney challenging testimony from a plaintiff witness regarding the extent of Garg's suffering before death.

During closing arguments, Boeing attorney Dan Webb emphasized the company's remorse, turning directly to Bhattacharya to express Boeing's apology in the courtroom.

Webb instructed the jury that their sole task was to determine a fair and reasonable damage amount. He emphasized that the jury should not base their decision on sympathy, echoing Judge Jorge Alonso's trial instructions.

"This trial does not involve punishing Boeing, this trial only concerns compensation," Webb stated. "Nothing in this case is about punishing Boeing, yet when I heard Mr. Specter requesting $80 to $230 million, that's not fair and reasonable compensation. He is asking to punish Boeing."

Garg had worked as a consultant for the United Nations Development Program and was traveling to Nairobi for a UN Environment Assembly.

She had married just three months earlier and had planned to travel with her husband, who canceled his flight at the last minute due to a meeting.

In his closing statement, plaintiffs' attorney Shanin Specter highlighted the loss of Garg's potential at the time of her death. He referenced Bhattacharya's testimony, where he described his late wife as a "brilliant" young professional studying renewable energy.

"Part of Soumya's grief is knowing that he doesn't get to see her do that," Specter said. "He doesn't get to share that with her."