A federal jury in Chicago has ordered Boeing to pay more than $28 million in damages to the family of Shikha Garg, a United Nations environmental consultant who was among the 157 people killed in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crashinvolving a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
The verdict marks the first trial resolution among dozens of lawsuits filed after two catastrophic 737 MAX crashes — Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 (2019) and Lion Air Flight 610 (2018) — which together claimed 346 lives.
After roughly two hours of deliberation, the jury awarded $10 million for grief, $10 million for pain and suffering, and additional sums for other compensatory damages.
“We happily accept the verdict. We came here for a jury trial, and it’s absolutely acceptable,” said Garg’s widower, Soumya Bhattacharya, speaking to AFP after the ruling.
Boeing issued a statement expressing remorse for the tragedies, saying:
“We are deeply sorry to all who lost loved ones on Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. While we have resolved most of these claims through settlements, families are also entitled to pursue damages trials, and we respect their right to do so.”
Garg’s estate, represented by attorney Shanin Specter, had sought between $80 million and $230 million, while Boeing’s legal team had argued for a figure closer to $11.95 million.
The March 10, 2019 crash occurred just six minutes after the aircraft took off from Addis Ababa, bound for Nairobi, killing all passengers and crew aboard. Garg, who was traveling to attend a UN Environment Assembly, had been married only three months prior to the accident. Her husband, Bhattacharya, was scheduled to be on the same flight but canceled last minute due to a work commitment.
While Boeing has already accepted responsibility for the Ethiopian Airlines crash, this trial focused solely on determining the amount of compensation. Boeing attorney Dan Webb emphasized that the case was not punitive, stating:
“There is nothing in this case to punish Boeing… The issue is fair and reasonable compensation for damages, not sympathy.”
Plaintiffs’ attorney Specter, in his closing remarks, underscored the promise and potential that was lost with Garg’s death.
“Part of Soumya’s grief is knowing that he doesn’t get to see her do that,” Specter said, describing Garg as a “brilliant” young professional dedicated to renewable energy and environmental sustainability.
The $28 million verdict represents one of the most significant awards yet in the litigation stemming from Boeing’s 737 MAX tragedies, which prompted a global grounding of the aircraft model and major reforms in aviation safety oversight worldwide.