The company allocates $100 million for the fund, but it may not suffice.
Boeing has unveiled a settlement fund with the aim of addressing the needs of the affected families and communities, according to a statement released by the company. The funds will be directed towards supporting education, living expenses, community initiatives, and economic development for those impacted by the tragic crashes.
In response to Boeing’s announcement, attorney Robert Clifford, who represents 23 families affected by the second crash, expressed that the families he spoke to were not entirely satisfied. Clifford stated to Business Insider that while the fund can be viewed as a gesture, it falls short of addressing the crucial concerns of these families. The immediate priority for most families is to have the remains of their loved ones returned following the second crash to proceed with memorial services and achieve closure. In Clifford’s opinion, Boeing should allocate its resources towards facilitating this objective.
The two fatal crashes involving Boeing 737 Max aircraft led to a flurry of lawsuits during the investigation period. Following the Ethiopian Airlines crash, which was the second of the two incidents, all 737 Max planes were grounded to investigate the root cause. The investigations revealed that a software malfunction was responsible for controlling the planes’ movements. Lawsuits emerged from families worldwide, and more than 400 pilots sued Boeing for lost income due to the grounding of the entire 737 Max fleet.