Boeing Reaches Last-Minute Settlements to Avoid Civil Trial Over Ethiopian Airlines Crash

The settlements resolved the last two complaints scheduled for a trial in Chicago, with further legal proceedings set for July 2025.

Boeing avoided a civil trial scheduled to begin on April 7, 2025, by reaching last-minute settlements for the remaining two complaints related to the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash.
The trial, which was to be the first civil jury trial against Boeing over the crash, aimed to determine compensation for the victims' families.
The Ethiopian Airlines crash on March 10, 2019, killed 157 people and was linked to flaws in the MCAS software, which Boeing has publicly acknowledged as a contributing factor.
Boeing has settled numerous lawsuits related to the 737 MAX crashes, paying billions in settlements and penalties, with additional legal proceedings scheduled, including a trial on July 14, 2025.
The 737 MAX fleet was grounded for over 20 months following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, leading to global scrutiny of Boeing's accountability and safety practices.