Boeing to Pay 100 million USD in Support 737 MAX Crash Families, Communities

Addis Ababa July 4/2019 Boeing Company is to pay 100 million USD to support families and communities of those affected by the tragic crashes of Ethiopian and Indonesian Boeing 737 Max airplanes, CNN reports.

The money, stretching over several years, is independent of lawsuits filed in the wake of the disasters, which together killed 346 people.

It will reportedly be given to local non-profit CSOs and community groups that will distribute the funds to the relatives of the 346 people who died in the crashes.

A statement from Boeing, added that the payment will be used to support education, including college tuition or other schooling expenses for children of victims, and "hardship or living expenses for impacted families".

 Attorney Bob Clifford, who represents dozens of families affected by the March 2019 crash of a Boeing 737 Max in Ethiopia, told CNN that the families of the victims who have already sued the company were not enthusiastic about the offer.

"This type of offer so early in the litigation process is unprecedented," Clifford said and added that "because there is still so much to learn about what occurred, it also appears to be disingenuous."

He criticized Boeing's offer as "vague" and added that the families are less interested in cash than getting their loved ones' remains from the crash site, which so far has been what he called a "tortuously slow" process.

The loss of Ethiopian Airlines' flight ET302 in March was the second deadly accident involving a 737 Max in the space of five months, where almost the same aircraft, owned by the Indonesian carrier Lion Air, crashed in the sea off Jakarta in October 2018.

On yet another development, a Boeing spokesperson said that people who accept funds from the 100 million USD compensation fund will not be required to give up the right to pursue legal action against the company. The spokesperson declined further comment on Boeing ongoing lawsuits.