Boeing to start paying more than $144K each to families of Max 737 crash victims

The compensation fund pledged $50 million after the two crashes killed 346.

September 24, 2019, 11:09 AM

Families of victims who died in the two Boeing 737 Max crashes that took place within six months of each other and killed a total of 346 people will receive compensation from an airline fund, Boeing announced Monday.

"The recent 737 MAX tragedies weigh heavily on all of us at Boeing, and we continue to extend our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of all those on board,” Dennis Muilenburg, the CEO of Boeing said in a statement, calling the opening of the fund "an important step in our efforts to help affected families."

The fund will provide $50 million in immediate assistance to families of the victims and Boeing has pledged a total of $100 million to "address family and community needs of those affected by the tragedies."

The extra $50 million will go towards "education and economic empowerment in impacted communities," the company said.

PHOTO: IThe seven people that were working for the WFP and were among the 157 people from 35 countries who died when an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 jetliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa en route to Nairobi, Kenya.)
In this combo from pictures made available by the World Food Program Monday, March 11, 2019, the seven people that were working for the WFP and were among the 157 people from 35 countries who died when an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 jetliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa en route to Nairobi, Kenya.
World Food Program via AP, FILE

A separate website developed for the fund says it will be distributed pro-rata, meaning each family of each victim will receive approximately $144,500, and that families don't have to waive their right to sue Boeing in order to be eligible to receive funds.

PHOTO: Clariss Moore wears a button calling for the Boeing 737 MAX 8 to be grounded during a vigil for victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 crash on September 10, 2019 in Washington, D.C.
Clariss Moore wears a button calling for the Boeing 737 MAX 8 to be grounded during a vigil for victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 crash on September 10, 2019 in Washington, DC. Moore's daughter, Danielle Moore, was one of the 157 killed in the March 10 crash.
Zach Gibson/Getty Images

 

Lion Air Flight 610 crashed in the ocean just outside of Indonesia shortly after takeoff in October 2018, killing all 189 on board, including three children.

In March 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 also crashed just minutes after taking off from Ethiopia's capital, killing all 157 people on board, including eight Americans.

The 737 Max jets have been grounded since March.

PHOTO: Michael Stumo, and Paul Njoroge, representing the families of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, testify before a House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee hearing on "State of Aviation Safety" in Washington, D.C., July 17, 2019.
Michael Stumo, father of Flight ET302 victim Samya Stumo, and Paul Njoroge, representing the families of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, testify before a House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee hearing on "State of Aviation Safety" in the aftermath of two deadly Boeing 737 MAX crashes since October, in Washington, D.C., July 17, 2019.
Erin Scott/Reuters, FILE

In July, a man who lost his entire family in the Ethiopian Airlines crash testified before a congressional subcommittee to discuss aviation safety, and brought with him blown up pictures of his wife, three children and mother-in-law who died in the Boeing 737 Max crash.

"I stay up nights thinking of the horror that they must have endured," Paul Njoroge told lawmakers.

Boeing had announced the $100 million compensation fund in July just minutes before Njoroge's testimony began, and the widower slammed the pledge at the time as "a press relations strategy to apologize to cameras."

"Boeing has never reached out to families about the impossible sorrow and grief we will carry for our entire lives," Njoroge said in July.

In addition to the compensation fund, Boeing said Monday it has raised more than $780,000 to support those affected by the crashes through a separate charitable fund from Boeing employees and retirees.

Related Topics