US jury awards $49.5 mn damages to Boeing 737 MAX victim's family

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

Chicago: A federal jury in Chicago has awarded $49.5 million in damages to the family of Samya Stumo, a 24-year-old American who died in the 2019 Boeing 737 MAX crash in Ethiopia. This verdict, delivered on Wednesday, marks one of the largest single-victim awards stemming from the two disasters that claimed 346 lives and grounded the aircraft worldwide.

The award includes $21 million for Stumo's pain and suffering in the final moments before the crash, along with compensation for economic losses and the family's grief. Stumo, a public health worker, was traveling to her first assignment in Kenya when the Ethiopian Airlines jet went down shortly after takeoff.

While Boeing had already accepted responsibility for compensatory damages, the trial focused solely on the amount of compensation. Most families of victims have settled out of court, but the Stumo family pursued a public trial to seek accountability. Boeing expressed deep condolences following the verdict, stating they respect the family's right to pursue the legal process.