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Boeing Ordered to Pay $35.8 Million to Family of Ethiopian Airlines Crash Victim
11/13/2025, 8:58:38 PM
Jury Verdict in First Civil Trial Related to 737 Max Crashes
A federal jury in Chicago has awarded over $28 million to the family of Shikha Garg, a United Nations consultant who perished in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash on March 10, 2019. This verdict, reached after a weeklong trial, marks the first civil trial stemming from the disaster that claimed the lives of all 157 individuals on board. The total compensation, including an additional $3.45 million from an out-of-court settlement with Garg's husband, Soumya Bhattacharya, amounts to $35.8 million, factoring in a 26% interest charge.
Details of the Crash and Trial
The Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed just minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, en route to Nairobi, Kenya. During the trial, Garg was described as a promising PhD candidate and newlywed, traveling to attend a U.N. environmental assembly. The jury's award included $10 million for pain and suffering, reflecting the emotional distress experienced by Garg prior to the crash.
Boeing's legal team argued that the passengers did not suffer physical pain before impact, asserting that the crash occurred too quickly for any sensation of injury. However, the jury was tasked solely with determining damages, as Boeing had already accepted liability for the crash.
Boeing's Response and Broader Implications
In a statement following the verdict, Boeing expressed condolences to the victims' families and acknowledged their right to pursue claims in court. The company has previously settled the majority of lawsuits related to the two fatal crashes involving the 737 Max, which also includes the Lion Air Flight 610 disaster in Indonesia five months prior.
Legal experts suggest that this landmark verdict could influence numerous pending lawsuits against Boeing, as it underscores the ongoing human cost associated with corporate oversight failures. The jury's decision may set a precedent for future cases, particularly given that Boeing has already paid over $2.5 billion in settlements related to the crashes.
Criticism and Ongoing Legal Challenges
The trial also highlighted significant concerns regarding Boeing's safety practices. A 2020 report by the House Transportation Committee criticized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for failing to ensure the safety of the 737 Max, citing internal documents that revealed engineers had raised alarms about the aircraft's flight-control system, which was implicated in both crashes.
In a separate legal development, a Texas federal judge recently dismissed a long-running criminal case against Boeing, which had accused the company of conspiracy to commit fraud. This dismissal has drawn criticism from victims' families who argue it limits Boeing's accountability for its actions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This verdict is about accountability and the irreplaceable void left in our family,” — Soumya Bhattacharya, Husband of Shikha Garg
- “We and the family are gratified by the jury's verdict. It provides public accountability for Boeing's wrongful conduct,” — Shanin Specter and Elizabeth Crawford, Family Lawyers
- “The FAA failed to ensure the safety of the traveling public,” — House Transportation Committee Report
As the legal ramifications of the 737 Max tragedies continue to unfold, the Garg family's case serves as a poignant reminder of the personal losses behind the statistics, emphasizing the need for corporate responsibility in aviation safety.
