A Settlement Before the Storm
Just days before what was expected to be a dramatic court showdown in Chicago, Boeing has settled lawsuits with the families of two Americans who died in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash. The crash involved a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and killed all 157 people on board.
The two victims were U.S. Army Captain Antoine Lewis and environmental advocate Darcy Belanger. Both men were headed to Africa on separate missions when tragedy struck. Lewis was exploring business opportunities, while Belanger was scheduled to speak at a global environmental summit.
Faces Behind the Headlines
Captain Lewis, a family man from Chicago, left behind a wife and two young sons. Darcy Belanger, a passionate voice for the environment from Colorado, had a long history of activism and dedication to protecting the planet.
Their families were among the first to take Boeing to court, determined to seek justice and accountability for what happened that day. But with the trial date closing in, Boeing chose to settle. The terms of the deal haven’t been made public.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said last week that the company is talking with the Justice Department to work out a new plea deal in a fraud case. The case is about Boeing allegedly giving false information to regulators about an important safety feature on the 737 MAX.
Why This Matters
The Ethiopian Airlines crash was the second deadly 737 MAX crash in less than five months. Both accidents were blamed on a faulty flight control system. The fallout grounded the 737 MAX worldwide, caused financial damage to Boeing, and triggered major investigations.
While Boeing has already settled most other lawsuits tied to these crashes, this trial would’ve been the first to bring the company face-to-face with victims’ families in a U.S. courtroom. The last-minute agreement means Boeing avoids that public reckoning, at least for now.
Boeing Apologizes and Commits to Fair Compensation
On Monday, Boeing once again expressed its deep apologies for the crashes, saying it “made an upfront commitment to fully and fairly compensate the families and accepted legal responsibility for the accidents. We will continue to work to fairly resolve the claims of the family members.”
Ongoing Legal Challenges for Boeing
Even though these two lawsuits have been resolved, Boeing’s legal troubles aren’t over. The company is still working with the U.S. Department of Justice over separate criminal charges related to how it handled the 737 MAX’s approval process.
This moment brings some closure for the families, but for Boeing, the road to restoring trust is far from over.
