You can’t buy us off, Boeing.
That’s the message from victims’ loved ones after the aircraft giant pledged $100 million to the families of the 346 people killed in two 737 MAX plane crashes caused partly by faulty software.
Attorney Robert Clifford, who is representing dozens of family members of the 157 people killed in the March crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jet, called the move “disingenuous” so early in the litigation process.
“Boeing does not understand that the families at this point in time are not interested in its money,” Clifford said in an e-mailed statement to the Daily News. “The fact is that what is foremost on the minds of these families is getting back the human remains from the crash site. To date that process has been tortuously slow without a great deal of communication from Ethiopia. If Boeing really wanted to help, it would take all that money and devote it to accelerating the remains recovery/identification process for these families.”
Boeing announced the funds on Wednesday “to address family and community needs of those affected by the tragic accidents of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302,” the company said in a statement. “These funds will support education, hardship and living expenses for impacted families, community programs, and economic development in impacted communities.”
Lion Air Flight 610 crashed last October shortly after takeoff from Indonesia, killing all 189 people aboard.
Indonesian passenger plane carrying 189 people crashes near Jakarta
Investigations revealed a software glitch in which an automatic safety system pushed the planes’ noses down, making the aircraft impossible to control. The 737 MAX 8 was grounded worldwide soon after the March tragedy.
“We at Boeing are sorry for the tragic loss of lives in both of these accidents and these lives lost will continue to weigh heavily on our hearts and on our minds for years to come. The families and loved ones of those on board have our deepest sympathies, and we hope this initial outreach can help bring them comfort,” Boeing chairman, president and CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, said in a statement.
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