Aircraft manufacturer Boeing admits responsibility for the crash of a Boeing 737 Max plane belonging to Ethiopian Airlines in Ethiopia in 2019, an accident that claimed 157 lives.
In the settlement, Boeing admits that it was the company's software that caused the aircraft's pilots to lose control of the plane.
The settlement does not mean that the company will immediately pay compensation to the victims' families, but it does make it possible for the relatives to seek compensation through American courts, instead of doing so in their home countries.
”"Boeing is committed to ensuring that all relatives who lost a family member in the accidents are fairly and fully compensated for their losses," Boeing wrote in a statement.
The lawyers representing the victims say that the settlement is a milestone for the families in their fight for compensation.
"By acknowledging its responsibility, Boeing's agreement allows the parties to focus on setting a fair level of compensation for each individual family," they write in their statement.
The accident in Ethiopia was the second in a short period of time involving a Boeing 737 Max aircraft. In October 2018, a Lion Air plane crashed in Indonesia, killing 189 people.
The aircraft type was grounded worldwide after the accident in Ethiopia and was only allowed to fly again at the beginning of this year. This has cost Boeing enormous sums, including in cancellations and compensation.
