Paul Njoroge has accepted a settlement from Boeing. He’s a Canadian man who unfortunately lost his wife and three children in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash in 2019. This settlement was made only days before jury trial was set to begin in Chicago’s federal court. This trial was to decide what damages Njoroge is entitled to receive. Boeing has acknowledged fault for the accident. This decision flies in the face of the company’s prior agreements, all of which have centered around the safety of its 737 Max aircraft.
By accident, the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 disaster became the germ that nourished the seed. Tragically, the 157 people on board perished. Investigators would later find that both this crash and a comparable incident with Lion Air in Indonesia were the result of a faulty system. This system relied on incorrect sensor readings, which forced the aircraft’s nose to crash down at a rapid pace.
Boeing’s Acknowledgment of Responsibility
In 2021, Boeing admitted liability for the Ethiopia crash, taking responsibility for its role in the disaster. The company has faced ongoing criticism over its fleet of 737 Max jets. These new aircraft are the subject of safety issues since the episodes took place. Boeing reached a similar agreement with the U.S. Justice Department earlier this year. This deal protects the company from facing criminal charges related to either crash, eliminating the threat of conviction-based punishment.
Robert Clifford, an attorney representing Njoroge, noted the emotional toll that the tragedy had taken on his client.
“I stay up nights thinking of the horror that they must have endured,” – Njoroge
Clifford noted that Njoroge has been grappling with profound grief and emotional stress as he navigates life without his family.
“He’s got complicated grief and sorrow and his own emotional stress,” – Robert Clifford
Changes Implemented by Boeing
In mitigation for the crashes, Boeing implemented major redesign efforts to its Max jets. After withdrawing their fleet, the company grounded the fleet worldwide until these amendments were made. The changes address significant safety concerns in the aircraft’s automation system. These issues had previously been associated with fatal crashes.
We know that Boeing is committed to safety. They’ve updated the flight control system, rectifying flaws that led to automated systems triggering erroneously in key moments of flight. The redesign was made necessary after investigations pointed out the dependence on a single defective sensor, which had tragic results.
Legal Proceedings and Settlement Details
Paul Njoroge was preparing for a jury trial in Chicago to show damages from his family’s loss. Just as he was preparing for this, the settlement came through. The discussions went well beyond the details of the proceedings. Unfortunately, they never dug into the technical nitty-gritty of the Max variant of Boeing’s bestselling 737 passenger airliner. Instead, attention would have shifted to the human toll of the tragedy and the impact that it will have on Njoroge for the rest of his life.
Clifford’s legal team clearly put in a tremendous effort at trial. He was glad that mediation allowed both parties to come to a mutually beneficial agreement before court, allowing them to avoid any further conflict.
“The aviation team at Clifford Law Offices has been working round-the-clock in preparation for trial, but the mediator was able to help the parties come to an agreement,” – Robert Clifford
