Post by : Rameen Ariff

A jury in the United States has mandated that Boeing pay $28.45 million to the family of Shikha Garg, a consultant based in New Delhi, who tragically perished in the Ethiopian Airlines crash of 2019 involving a Boeing 737 MAX.

This judgment marks a pivotal moment as the first civil trial regarding the deadly crashes of the Boeing 737 MAX, which collectively took 346 lives in two separate incidents in 2018 and 2019. After two hours of deliberation, the federal jury in Chicago arrived at this conclusion, awarding $10 million for grief and pain and suffering, alongside further compensation.

Shikha Garg, associated with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), was one of the 157 souls lost when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 met its tragic end shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa en route to Nairobi. This incident followed shortly after another similar tragedy involving a Lion Air flight, which claimed the lives of 189 individuals.

Soumya Bhattacharya, Garg's husband, expressed his acceptance of the jury's ruling, stating, “We came here for a jury trial, and it’s absolutely acceptable.” The couple had been married for a mere three months before the crash occurred. At the time of the accident, Garg was on her way to Nairobi for a UN Environment Assembly event.

Boeing has acknowledged its accountability for the Ethiopian Airlines incident, expressing heartfelt condolences to all the families affected by both MAX disasters. The company highlighted that while a majority of claims have been settled outside of court, they respect the families' rights to pursue trials for damages.

During the legal proceedings, Boeing's defense suggested that the compensation proposed should be “fair and reasonable,” offering $11.95 million as a total figure. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs aimed for compensation between $80 million and $230 million, reflecting Garg’s potential and the profound emotional trauma faced by her husband and family.

Boeing attorney Dan Webb, in his concluding statements, personally apologized to Bhattacharya, clarifying that the trial focused on “compensation, not punishment.”

On the other hand, plaintiffs’ attorney Shanin Specter highlighted Garg's exceptional talent and future promise, asserting that her untimely demise represented not just a personal loss but a loss of contribution to the global community.

This ruling signals a noteworthy development in the protracted legal proceedings surrounding Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft, which faced a global grounding lasting nearly two years following the tragic crashes. Subsequent safety reforms and design modifications were mandated prior to the jets resuming operations.

The outcome is anticipated to serve as a benchmark for similar ongoing cases within US courts, as families persist in their quest for justice for their beloved ones, lost amidst one of aviation's most somber episodes.

#Global