Boeing offers $100m to families of 737 crash victims – TheNigerialawyer

The families of two Nigerians killed in the Ethiopian Airline’s
plane crash, Prof. Pius Adesanmi and Ambassador Abiodun Bashua are
among the 155 others who are to benefit from Boeing’s $100 million
special funds to assuage the pains of relatives left behind by the
deceased.

Also on board the flight were 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, nine
Ethiopians, eight Chinese, eight Italians, eight Americans, and
seven people each from France and the United Kingdom.

There were also six Egyptians, five Germans, four people each
from Slovakia and India, three people each from Austria, Russia,
Sweden, and two people each from Spain, Israel, Morrocco and
Poland.

The aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX with registration number ET- AVJ,
took off at 08.38a.m. local time from Addis Ababa and lost contact
at 08.44a.m.

This also comprised passengers who were killed in Indonesia last
year October when the B737MAX plunged into the sea killing all
on-board.

The breakdown shows that each of the deceased families would
pocket $289,017.34, just as the plane maker said it was setting
aside $100 million to assist the families of victims and
communities impacted by the accidents in October and March that
killed 346 people.

Boeing said in a statement yesterday that the “funds will
support education, hardship and living expenses for impacted
families, community programmes, and economic development in
impacted communities. Boeing will partner with local governments
and non-profit organizations to address these needs. This initial
investment will be made over multiple years.”

The company was quick to explain that the funds will be
available over the next several years and are not part of any
compensation Boeing may have to pay to those who sue the company
for damages related to accidents.

Chairman and chief executive officer of Boeing, Dennis
Muilenburg added: “We at Boeing are sorry for the tragic loss of
lives in both of these accidents and these lives lost will continue
to weigh heavily on our hearts and on our minds for years to
come.

“The families and loved ones of those on board have our deepest
sympathies, and we hope this initial outreach can help bring them
comfort,” he said.

Nomi Husain, a Texas-based lawyer representing some of the
families of victims of ET 302, said Boeing’s payment “doesn’t come
anywhere close to compensating the families for what has been taken
from them.”

The victims’ families won’t have to waive their right to sue
Boeing if they take money from the fund, the company said.

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