Money by Boeing meant to influence court case, plane crash victims’ families now claim

The Kenyan families of crash victims of the Ethiopian airline have read mischief in Boeing’s plan to give Sh10 billion in compensation.

On Tuesday, the jet manufacturer revealed it was setting aside the money to assist families of the victims as well as the communities affected during the tragedies of October (Indonesia) and March (Ethiopia) where 346 people died.

A Boeing 737 MAX jet operated by Ethiopian crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa on March 10, 2019 killing 157 people, among them 32 Kenyans.

The money, the plane-maker said, would be channeled through governments and undisclosed charity organisations.

In a statement, Boeing said the families affected did not have to abandon the right to sue the company even if they will accept the money.

But the Kenyan families who lost their kin have issued a rejoinder, saying they will not be hoodwinked into “public relation stunts” by Boeing.

They said the fund was a tactic used to make the company look remorseful in order to sway the minds of the jury in the US where the cases have been filed.

Nevertheless, the families said they will accept the money but proceed with the case.

“They have tried to whip emotions of families. They are apologising in a colourful manner yet they know their plane was faulty,” said lawyers Irungu Kang’ata and Stephen Gachie.

Further, the families questioned how the funds would reach them, saying the channels used by the company was against their wishes.