Boeing Settles With Families, Avoids 737 MAX Crash Trial

Boeing has reached a settlement with the families of two victims of the March 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX crash. The announcement came shortly before the trial was set to begin in the US District Court in Chicago. This would have been the first trial against Boeing related to the two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, which led to the aircraft’s 20-month grounding and cost the company over US$20 billion.

The families of Antoine Lewis and Darcy Belanger have agreed to settle with Boeing. Their legal representatives confirmed the resolution. Lewis, 39, a US Army captain, was on military leave, traveling to Africa to explore logistics business opportunities. Belanger, 46, from Denver, Colorado, was en route to the United Nations Environment Assembly, where he was scheduled to deliver a speech.

Boeing had previously accepted liability for compensatory damages in lawsuits filed by the families of all 157 people killed in the 2019 crash. However, the specific terms of the settlements for Lewis and Belanger's families have not been disclosed.

This settlement is part of Boeing’s ongoing legal challenges following the 737 MAX crashes. In addition to civil cases, Boeing is negotiating with the US Justice Department regarding a revised plea agreement in a criminal fraud case. The case stems from allegations that Boeing misrepresented the safety of the 737 MAX to regulators. CEO Kelly Ortberg stated the company is working to finalize a deal that could include fines up to US$487.2 million. The plea agreement, accepted in July, relates to the crashes and the aircraft’s flawed design.

Despite these settlements, some family members of crash victims have voiced dissatisfaction with Boeing’s plea deal with the Department of Justice, arguing it does not adequately hold the company accountable for their loved ones’ deaths.

The crashes—the October 2018 Lion Air disaster in Indonesia, which killed 189 people, and the Ethiopian Airlines crash, which claimed 157 lives—were linked to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). The system, intended to prevent stalling, instead caused uncommanded nose-down movements, leading to the accidents.

The Department of Justice determined in May 2023 that Boeing violated a 2021 agreement protecting it from prosecution, prompting criminal charges. Ongoing plea discussions aim to resolve these violations, with a trial set for Jun. 23, 2025, if no agreement is reached.

In addition to the Ethiopian Airlines case, two other trials are scheduled for July and November 2025, potentially presenting further legal hurdles for Boeing.