Boeing giving $100 million to support families of 737 MAX crash victims

Jul 4 2019, 12:49 am

Just under four months after Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 157 passengers and crew on board, including 18 Canadians, Boeing has announced it’s offering $100 million to support the families of victims and others affected.

This also includes those affected by the Lion Air Flight 610, also a Boeing 737 MAX 8, that crashed into the Java Sea just 12 minutes after taking off from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board in October 2018.

As a result of both tragedies, 346 people lost their lives.
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To address family and community needs of those affected by the tragic accidents, Boeing is donating $100 million to support education, hardship, and living expenses for the impacted families, community programs, and economic development in the impacted communities.

Boeing will partner with local governments and non-profit organizations to address these needs, Boeing said Wednesday in a statement.

The funds will be committed over multiple years.

“We at Boeing are sorry for the tragic loss of lives in both of these accidents and these lives lost will continue to weigh heavily on our hearts and on our minds for years to come,” said Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing chairman, president and CEO.

“The families and loved ones of those on board have our deepest sympathies, and we hope this initial outreach can help bring them comfort,” said Muilenburg.

“We know every person who steps aboard one of our airplanes places their trust in us. We are focused on re-earning that trust and confidence from our customers and the flying public in the months ahead.”

As a result of the tragedies, regulators and airlines around the world grounded the Boeing 737 MAX planes this past March.

Muilenburg said the accidents were caused by a chain of events, “with a common chain link being erroneous activation of the aircraft’s MCAS function. We have the responsibility to eliminate this risk, and we know how to do it. As part of this effort, we’re making progress on the 737 MAX software update that will prevent accidents like these from ever happening again.”

Besides working on advancing and testing its software update, Muilenburg said the company is now adjusting its production system temporarily to accommodate the “pause” in MAX deliveries.

Ainsley SmithAinsley Smith

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