International: Boeing’s Hefty Bill: Shikha’s Legacy Lives
A Chicago federal court has delivered a landmark ruling, mandating Boeing to pay $35.85 million, equivalent to about ₹317 crore, to the family of an Indian woman killed in a 2019 plane crash. This verdict caps a six-year legal battle, marking the first jury decision in U.S. trials over the Boeing 737 MAX disasters. It highlights accountability for design flaws that claimed hundreds of lives, offering some closure to grieving relatives.
Verdict Brings Measure of Justice
The jury found Boeing liable for Shikha Garg’s death, awarding $28 million in base damages, plus interest and fees that pushed the total to $35.85 million. Garg’s family argued the aircraft’s flawed flight software and Boeing’s failure to warn pilots contributed directly to the tragedy. Under a settlement deal, Boeing agreed to the full amount, avoiding further appeals.
This outcome sets a precedent for ongoing cases from the two fatal MAX crashes. Families across borders have pursued similar claims, with Boeing settling many quietly, but this public win underscores the human cost behind corporate oversights.
Portrait of a Rising Star
Shikha Garg, 35 at the time, embodied quiet determination and cultural pride. A PhD candidate focused on environmental policy, she worked as a consultant for the United Nations, en route to Nairobi for the UN Environment Assembly when fate intervened. Loved ones recall her boarding the flight in a traditional saree, a nod to her Indian roots that blended seamlessly with her global ambitions.
Her death left a void in her family and the international community, where she championed sustainable development. Shikha’s story resonates as one of unfulfilled promise, her passion for change cut short mid-journey.
The Crash That Shook the Skies
On March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX, plummeted minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport. All 157 aboard perished, including crew from 35 nations. Just five months prior, a similar MAX model had crashed in Indonesia, killing 189 and prompting global scrutiny.
Investigators pinned both incidents on the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, a software meant to prevent stalls but prone to erroneous activations. Over 340 lives lost in total fueled worldwide outrage and regulatory crackdowns.
Global Grounding and Recovery
The tragedies triggered an unprecedented grounding of the entire 737 MAX fleet for nearly 20 months, from March 2019 to December 2020. Boeing invested billions in fixes, including software overhauls and enhanced pilot training, to regain certification. The fleet’s return marked a cautious rebuild, though trust in the model took years to restore.
Yet echoes persist. In June 2025, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after departing Ahmedabad for London, claiming 241 lives on board and 19 on the ground when it struck a medical college hostel. Only one passenger survived, amid probes into cockpit fuel switch malfunctions.
This recent mishap renews questions about aviation safety, even as Boeing faces renewed FAA oversight.