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Kenyan families reject Boeing’s $100m compensation
At least 15 Kenyan families who lost their kin in fatal Ethiopian Airlines crash in March 2019 in March 2019 have flatly rejected $100million (N35 billion) compensation from manufacturer to withdraw the case.
The ill-fated plane killed 149 passengers and eight crew members. Through their lawyers led by Stephen Gachie, the 15 families vowed to proceed with the case to its logical conclusion despite Boeing having proposed an out of court settlement and financial support.
The lawyers of the families whose relatives’ bodies burnt beyond recognition have vowed to proceed with the case to its logical conclusion.
Boeing expressed its intention to compensate families of both Ethiopian and Indonesian crash victims involving its 737 Max jets on Tuesday, July 2.
“Those whom we represent in totality have rejected the settlement terms, and the idea is to go for trial because once you go for trial, that’s when the statement will be made for purposes of the changes we are foreseeing in the aviation industry,” he stated.
Gachie argued the compensation and out of court settlement was a clear testament the company was culpable and admitting the ill-fated planes had engineering error.
Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata who is among the families’ lawyers said the case presented an opportunity to change the aviation industry by instilling sense of responsibility among aircraft manufacturers.
“We foresee a situation where historic verdicts will be rendered by the courts. The reason why this case is of huge impact is because it’s going to change the history of the aviation industry.
“It’s going to make people who make aeroplanes more responsible in that whenever you are travelling you don’t fear that maybe the manufacturer has done something which is wrong and therefore it’s a moment that the entire world is watching,” said Kangata.
The Sunday, March 10, Ethiopian Airlines crash claimed lives of 149 passengers and eight crew members on board. The plane was destined to Kenya from Ethiopia but disappeared from the radar six minutes after take-off.
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