A Brampton man, Manant Vaidya, is set to present his case for damages in a Chicago courtroom on Monday, concerning the tragic loss of six family members in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash. The devastating incident, involving the Boeing 737 MAX8 aircraft, claimed the lives of Vaidya’s parents, sister, brother-in-law, and two young nieces as it crashed shortly after departing from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, en route to Nairobi, Kenya.
The family had been on a journey during spring break, with the intention of exploring their mother’s birthplace, when the tragedy struck, resulting in the loss of all 157 individuals on board, representing 35 different nationalities.
Scheduled for Monday morning, jury selection marks the beginning of a week-long legal process where Vaidya’s legal team aims to seek monetary compensation to hold the corporate giant accountable, although the specific amount remains undisclosed.
Boeing, acknowledging responsibility for the crash, reached an agreement allowing the victims’ families to pursue claims in American courts. The company avoided federal charges by committing to pay an additional $1.1 billion in fines and compensation to the families of the crash victims.
Furthermore, over a hundred lawsuits have been filed against Boeing by the families of the passengers, with notable settlements reached in the case of other crash victims. Notably, a settlement was achieved with Canadian man Paul Njoroge last July, whose wife and children perished in the crash, although the details remain confidential.
In a separate legal victory, the family of a United Nations consultant who lost his life in the crash was awarded over $28 million by a Chicago jury in November, shedding light on the ongoing pursuit of justice and closure for those impacted by the tragic event.
Keyphrase: Boeing Ethiopian Airlines crash