- A judge has ruled that families of victims of the 2019 Boeing 737 MAX crashes can seek compensation for pain and suffering, in addition to economic and other damages.
- Boeing has admitted responsibility for the crashes, which killed 346 people in Indonesia and Ethiopia, and has set up a $500 million compensation fund for the families of the victims.
- However, the company had argued that it should not be required to pay compensation for pain and suffering, as this is not allowed under the Montreal Convention, an international treaty governing air travel.
- The judge rejected Boeing’s argument, ruling that the Montreal Convention does not preclude such compensation and that “nothing in the treaty suggests that recovering damages for mental anguish is impermissible.”
- The ruling is a significant victory for the families of the victims, who have been seeking compensation for a range of damages, including emotional distress and loss of companionship.
- The ruling also sets an important precedent for future cases involving air travel and compensation for pain and suffering.
- Boeing has not yet commented on the ruling, but the company is expected to appeal the decision.
Boeing CEO - Dave Calhoun