Chicago Jury Grants $29 Million to Family of Boeing Crash Victim

In a significant ruling, a Chicago jury has granted $29 million in damages to the family of Michael "Mick" Ryan, an Irish native and United Nations employee who tragically lost his life in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX disaster, as reported by a US court representative.

Ryan was one of the 157 individuals who perished when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed in March 2019. The civil action was initiated against Boeing by his widow, Naoise Connolly Ryan.

Michael Ryan’s Contributions to the UN World Food Programme

At the time of the accident, Ryan was a 39-year-old engineer working with the United Nations World Food Programme. He dedicated his career to various nations and humanitarian efforts.

His endeavors included aiding the response to the Ebola outbreak in Liberia and assisting Rohingya refugees. A UN memorial has highlighted his valuable contributions in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Ethiopia.

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One of the Last Civil Suits Against Boeing

This case stands among the last civil lawsuits brought against Boeing related to the two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019.

The combined tragedies claimed the lives of 346 individuals. Most of the civil claims arising from these crashes have been settled outside of court, with financial terms typically undisclosed.

Ryan's attorney, Steven Marks, previously noted that his client was committed to seeking justice and accountability through a jury trial rather than opting for a direct settlement from Boeing.

Boeing Admits Fault of Anti-Stall Software

Boeing has expressed remorse for the two crashes and acknowledged the involvement of its anti-stall software in both incidents.

The company had not issued a response following the verdict on Wednesday.

Previous $49.5 Million Award in Ethiopian Airlines Case

This ruling comes in the wake of another significant jury award regarding the same Ethiopian Airlines tragedy.

In May, a jury in Chicago granted $49.5 million to the family of Samya Stumo, a 24-year-old American who was also a victim on that fateful Ethiopian Airlines flight.