Just days before a civil trial was set to begin, aircraft giant Boeing quietly agreed to a settlement with Paul Njoroge, a man who lost his entire family in the 2019 crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302, as France24 reports.

The agreement ends a long legal battle in which Njoroge sought damages from Boeing for the deaths of his wife, three young children, and mother-in-law in a tragedy that has come to symbolize the failures of Boeing’s 737 MAX program.

On March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 took off from Addis Ababa en route to Nairobi. Merely six minutes after takeoff, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet suffered a catastrophic failure and plunged into the ground, killing all 157 people on board in a tragedy that shocked the aviation world.

Among the victims were Njoroge's wife, Carolyne, 33, his mother-in-law Ann Karanja, and his three children: six-year-old Ryan, four-year-old Kelli, and nine-month-old Rubi. The devastating loss not only shattered one family but also exposed deep flaws within Boeing's aircraft systems and corporate practices.

In the years following the crash, more than 150 families joined legal action against Boeing, accusing the company of gross negligence and wrongful death. The key issue centered around the 737 MAX’s Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS—a faulty software system that Boeing admitted was linked to the crash.

Settlement halts trial just before opening statements

Njoroge, one of the most outspoken advocates for crash victims, had been preparing to take Boeing to civil court in Chicago. The trial, scheduled to begin Monday, was expected to last nearly a week and would have presented evidence of Boeing’s liability in open court.

According to a spokesperson from Clifford Law Offices, which represented Njoroge, the case was resolved confidentially just before the trial commenced. Senior partner Robert Clifford said his team had been preparing "round-the-clock" for the courtroom battle, but a mediator succeeded in guiding both parties to reach a last-minute agreement.

Though the terms of the financial settlement remain private, the agreement means Boeing avoids a public and possibly damning civil trial over the crash. Over the past few years, the company has reached similar out-of-court deals with more than 90% of the families affected by the Ethiopian Airlines disaster and the earlier Lion Air crash in 2018.

Father’s pain highlighted in testimony

Njoroge has been a visible figure in the fight for accountability, repeatedly calling for transparency and penalties against those responsible. During a congressional hearing in July 2019, he delivered a heartrending testimony about his loss -- a moment that drew national attention.

"It is difficult for me to think of anything else but the horror they must have felt," he said, trying to imagine the final moments of the doomed flight. He described how his children may have clung to their mother, crying and frightened, as the aircraft plummeted toward the earth.

In speeches and interviews, he has consistently pushed for deeper scrutiny of Boeing’s internal decisions and for the company to be held accountable in court, not only in civil proceedings but also by federal prosecutors.

Criminal probe still pending

While Boeing has settled the bulk of civil litigation, its legal troubles are not over. A proposed settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice remains under judicial review as of July 2025. The deal would resolve a criminal probe stemming from both MAX crashes.

However, some families of crash victims are challenging that settlement in federal court and demanding full prosecution. They argue that Boeing shouldn't be allowed to pay its way out of accountability through deals made behind closed doors.

U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor, based in Texas, has yet to decide whether to approve the DOJ agreement. His ruling could determine if Boeing faces further consequences stemming from the twin tragedies.

Lessons to learn

1. True accountability can be long and difficult to achieve. Even in a high-profile incident with global attention, families often face years of legal battles to get justice. It is a reminder that change does not come easily, particularly when large corporations are involved.

2. Always advocate for transparency in safety practices. Passengers have the right to know the integrity and design of the aircraft they travel in. Regulatory loopholes and corporate secrecy can have deadly consequences.

3. Never blame the victims. Tragedy can strike even the most responsible travelers. While safety measures are important, unpredictable failures -- particularly systemic ones -- must be addressed at the root source, without shifting focus onto those who suffer most.

Why this story matters

This story sheds light on the broader issue of corporate responsibility in public safety. The crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 was not an isolated incident -- it followed a nearly identical failure in a separate Boeing 737 MAX flight months earlier.

By following this case and the families impacted, the public can better understand the stakes involved in aviation and the importance of restoring trust in oversight institutions. Njoroge’s perseverance forces ongoing attention to an issue that might otherwise fade away.