Boeing 737 MAX Crash: $37.1m Damages Awarded

A Chicago jury has awarded $29 million in damages to the family of Michael 'Mick' Ryan, an engineer with the UN World Food Programme who died in the 2019 Boeing 737 MAX crash in Ethiopia. The damages award is equivalent to $37.1 million in Singapore dollars.

Michael 'Mick' Ryan was one of the 157 people killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash in 2019. He was a 39-year-old Irish-born United Nations employee who had worked during the Ebola crisis in Liberia and with Rohingya refugees.

The case is one of the final remaining civil suits pending against Boeing following the pair of deadly MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that together claimed 346 lives. Boeing has apologised for the crashes and acknowledged that anti-stall software was implicated in both accidents.

Boeing has resolved nearly all of the claims through settlements, but some families have chosen to pursue their claims through the court process. A Boeing spokesperson said the company is 'deeply sorry to all who lost loved ones' and they 'respect' the right for families to 'pursue their claims'.

## Why it matters The verdict marks a significant milestone in the efforts of families to hold Boeing accountable for the tragic crashes. While no financial award can ever replace a life or undo the profound loss, the jury's decision represents an important measure of accountability and justice. The broader effort to prevent similar tragedies from happening again is ongoing, with families and lawyers continuing to push for greater transparency and accountability from Boeing.

The crash of the Ethiopian Airlines plane in 2019 was a devastating tragedy that affected families and communities around the world. The Boeing 737 MAX crashes have led to a major overhaul of the aviation industry's safety protocols and regulatory frameworks. As the industry continues to grapple with the aftermath of the crashes, the verdict serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and justice for the families of the victims.