Boeing Co, on Wednesday said they were going to set aside half of $100 million fund that was created after the two fatal crashes of its 737 MAX planes in paying the victim families. The action will be overseen by the veteran U.S compensation expert Ken Feinberg who was hired by Boeing Co, the largest plane maker, to look into the distribution. Ken Feinberg’s hiring came just a few minutes before a U.S House of Representatives hearing. During the hearing, one Paul Njoroge offered a dramatic testimony of how he had lost his wife, three children and mother-in-law in a 737 MAX Ethiopian Air crash.
Ken Feinberg’s hiring
Ken Feinberg’s hiring comes at the right time when victims’ families are seeking compensation after the two fatal plane crashes. Speaking to Reuters, Feinberg said his team will “start immediately drafting a claims protocol for those eligible.” With the first meeting between Ken Feinberg and officials of Boeing Co later on during the week, it looks like victims’ families are set to get something in return.
Feinberg happens to be the right person for this job considering he has administered many compensation funds in the past. For instance, he was responsible for administering compensation funds for victims of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, September11, 2001 attacks on the United States and the General Motors ignition switch crashes to mention a few.
Boeing 737 MAX Crashes
The Boeing 737 MAX which also happens to be the best-selling jet by Boeing was grounded worldwide in March following the Ethiopian Airlines Crash. This came a few months after another crash involving a similar Lion Air disaster took place in October 2018. During the two fatal crashes,346 people lost their lives.
While speaking during the U.S House of Representatives hearing, victims’ families narrated how their lives had been made unbearable after losing their loved ones.Speaking to reporters, Njoroge talked about how the public would not trust Boeing considering the crashes that took away the lives of so many people. “Do you want to fly in those planes? Do you want your children to fly in those planes? Njoroge asked. “I don’t have any more children.”
Njoroge who was born in Kenya but resides in Canada was not in agreement with Boeings decision to blame pilots yet they had nothing to do with the accidents. “Innocent pilots who had no knowledge and were given no information of the new and flawed MCAS system that could overpower pilots.” he said. However, Boeing Co, failed to address the specific questions that had been addressed by Njoroge. Instead they only issued a statement saying “We truly regret the loss of lives in both of these accidents and we are deeply sorry for the impact to the families and loved ones of those on board.”
With the hiring of Ken Feinberg, the victims’ families expect to receive the compensation within the shortest time possible considering some viewed the offer as a publicity stunt.