Did the judge rule the 737 Max crashes were crimes?
After briefing and an evidentiary hearing, in October 2022 Judge O'Connor ruled that those killed in the crashes were crime victims of Boeing's crime of conspiring to defraud the FAA.
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FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Boeing pleaded not guilty Thursday to a charge that it misled regulators who approved its 737 Max, the plane that was involved in two crashes that killed 346 people.
But the families sued, arguing that the agreement was a “sweetheart deal” made behind closed doors, and that under the Crime Victims Rights Act, they should have been allowed a seat at that table.
The airline can be sued for the wrongful death of the passenger. In general, the family can recover financial compensation, known as “damages,” for loss of support, and children can recover for loss of a parent's nurture, care and guidance.
Judge: Pain and terror felt by passengers before Boeing Max crashed can be considered. Families of passengers who died in the crash of a Boeing 737 Max in Ethiopia can seek damages for the pain and terror suffered by victims in the minutes before the plane flew nose-down into the ground, a federal judge has ruled.
After briefing and an evidentiary hearing, in October 2022 Judge O'Connor ruled that those killed in the crashes were crime victims of Boeing's crime of conspiring to defraud the FAA.
“If you could book a 737 500, and you find out it's a 737 MAX, technically they don't have to honor your request. … So you don't have a right to specify you are not going to go on a 737 MAX.”
Despite the FlyersRights concerns, the FAA, Boeing and many pilots deem the 737 MAX safe to fly and many airlines have the plane in service. “I can say categorically that the 737 MAX product is safe,” then-acting FAA administrator Bill Nolen told members of the US Senate Commerce Committee in March.
It reached a $237.5 million settlement with shareholders over board oversight of 737 MAX issues. The company also agreed to pay $200 million to resolve a Securities and Exchange Commission case related to alleged misleading statements after the crashes.
In many crashes the aircraft structure collapses and the individual is injured by impact with the airframe. These injuries can include amputations, major lacerations and crushing. When the structure collapses, the victims may become trapped within the wreckage and die of fire, drowning or traumatic asphyxia.
Families of victims and survivors may bring a lawsuit against the airline or aircraft. In some cases, it may be appropriate to sue a parts manufacturer. The federal government provides support to the families of those injured in airplane crashes.
As a result, Boeing agreed to establish a $500 million fund to compensate the families of those who died, pay a fine of nearly $244 million and pay $1.77 billion in compensation to airlines.