- This verdict could set a precedent for how future Boeing crash claims are evaluated
- While the company has resolved most cases through settlements, the Chicago ruling signals that families seeking justice through the courts may still find it
A U.S. federal jury has ordered Boeing to pay $28.45 million in damages to the family of Shikha Garg, a young professional from New Delhi who died in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash. The verdict marks the first civil trial resolution following the two fatal 737 MAX disasters that claimed 346 lives worldwide.
After two hours of deliberation, the Chicago jury awarded $10 million each for grief and pain and suffering, along with additional compensation. Garg’s husband, Soumya Bhattacharya, welcomed the verdict, saying, “We came here for a jury trial, and it’s absolutely acceptable.”
Boeing expressed remorse for the tragedies. “We are deeply sorry to all who lost loved ones,” a company spokesperson said, adding that while most claims have been settled privately, families retain the right to pursue damages through court trials.
Garg, a consultant with the UN Development Programme, was en route to Nairobi for the UN Environment Assembly when her plane crashed minutes after take-off from Addis Ababa. She had married only three months earlier.
- Attorneys for her family had sought between $80 million and $230 million, arguing the amount should reflect her potential and the emotional toll on her husband
- Boeing’s counsel countered that the request was excessive and that the case was about fair compensation, not punishment.
During closing arguments, Boeing attorney Dan Webb personally apologized to Bhattacharya in court, emphasizing the company’s remorse but urging the jury to stay within the bounds of reasonable damages.
Judge Jorge Alonso instructed jurors that the trial was not about punitive measures, but about determining just compensation—a point echoed by Boeing’s legal team.
Ultimately, the jury’s decision underscores both accountability and the emotional weight of the loss. As Bhattacharya testified, his wife was a “brilliant” renewable-energy expert whose career and impact were cut short.
