Families of 32 Kenyans who died in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash in 2019 are set to receive a combined $87.3 million (approximately Ksh.11.3 billion) from Boeing-linked victim compensation funds. The payout comes nearly seven years after the fatal crash that claimed the lives of all 157 people aboard the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
According to the law firm representing the Kenyan families, the compensation is part of funds established following the two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes involving Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Lion Air Flight 610. The $87.3 million payout translates to an average of approximately $2.73 million (about Ksh.353 million) per Kenyan victim, although individual compensation amounts may vary depending on the circumstances of each victim’s estate.
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 Crash
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed on March 10, 2019, shortly after taking off from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while heading to Nairobi, Kenya. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft crashed approximately six minutes after departure, killing all 157 passengers and crew members on board.
Among those killed were 32 Kenyan nationals, making Kenya the country with the highest number of victims in the tragedy. The crash triggered international investigations and renewed scrutiny of Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft, particularly its Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS).
Boeing Compensation Funds
The compensation follows agreements reached between Boeing and the United States Department of Justice after the two Boeing 737 MAX crashes. Boeing established a compensation fund to support families of victims of the disasters, with subsequent agreements providing additional funds for compensation.
The funds are expected to be distributed among the estates of the 346 people who lost their lives in the Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air crashes. The Kenyan families have been involved in a lengthy legal process seeking compensation for the loss of their relatives. The latest payout is expected to bring the compensation process closer to an end for the affected families, nearly seven years after the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy.
