WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Boeing Co (BA.N) will pay the families of
346 people killed in two fatal 737 MAX crashes $144,500 each from a
$50 million financial assistance fund announced in July, the fund’s
administrators said on Monday.
The fund, overseen by Washington lawyers Ken Feinberg and
Camille S. Biros, will begin accepting claims from family members
immediately. Family members will not be required to waive or
release the right to litigate as a condition of participation. The
737 MAX has been grounded since March after fatal crashes in
Ethiopia and Indonesia.
Claims must be postmarked no later than Dec. 31, the fund
said.
Feinberg said Monday in an email to Reuters that “finding all of
these heirs and making sure the funds will be safe and secure will
be a real challenge since the families can be found in 35 foreign
countries.”
In a statement, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said the company
continued to extend its “deepest sympathies” to the families and
loved ones of victims of the twin crashes.
“The opening of this fund is an important step in our efforts to
help affected families,” he said.
Boeing also announced in July it planned to spend an additional
$50 million to support education and economic empowerment in
impacted communities.
Nearly 100 lawsuits have been filed against Boeing by at least a
dozen law firms representing families of the Ethiopian Airlines
crash victims, who came from 35 different countries, including nine
U.S. citizens and 19 Canadians.
Families of about 60 victims have yet to file lawsuits but
plaintiffs’ lawyers said they anticipate more to come. Most of the
lawsuits do not make a specific dollar claim, though one law firm
has said its clients are seeking more than $1 billion.
The lawsuits assert that Boeing defectively designed the
automated flight control system. The system is believed to have
repeatedly forced the nose lower in both accidents.
Boeing has said it aims to win approval to resume flights early
in the fourth quarter.
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration head Steve Dickson told
Reuters last week it was not clear when Boeing will be able to
conduct a certification test flight. But he said the agency should
approve the plane’s return about a month after the test flight
occurs unless something unforeseen turns up.
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