A federal jury has ordered Boeing to pay $49.5 million to the family of a young woman killed in a 2019 plane crash. This decision ends a seven-year fight in court. It marks the largest jury award yet in lawsuits over the Boeing 737 MAX crashes.
The case centers on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on March 10, 2019. All 157 people on board died, including victims from more than three dozen countries.
Background on the Ethiopian Airlines Crash
Flight 302 went down near the town of Bishoftu, just minutes after leaving the runway. Samya Rose Stumo, a 24-year-old U.S. citizen, was one of the passengers. She had boarded the plane for a trip from Addis Ababa.
The crash was the second deadly accident involving the Boeing 737 MAX 8. The first happened five months earlier with Lion Air Flight 610 in October 2018. Both disasters raised serious questions about the plane’s design and safety systems.
Investigators found issues with the plane’s flight control software. This led to a worldwide grounding of the 737 MAX fleet for nearly two years. Boeing faced heavy criticism and regulatory changes after the events.
The Stumo Family’s Legal Fight
Most families of Flight 302 victims accepted Boeing’s offers to admit fault without a full trial. These deals let them get compensation quickly. But Stumo’s family, represented by lawyers from Kline & Specter in Philadelphia, said no.
They wanted a jury to decide the damages. The case went to trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Judge Jorge L. Alonso oversaw the proceedings.
The trial tested how much a jury would award for the loss. It drew attention because few cases reached this stage. The family’s choice set their claim apart from over 150 wrongful-death lawsuits filed after the two crashes.
Details of the May 2026 Verdict
On May 13, 2026, the jury ruled in favor of Stumo’s estate. They awarded $49.5 million in compensatory damages. This covers losses like future earnings, pain, and family support that Stumo would have provided.
The amount is the biggest from any jury in the 737 MAX litigation so far. Boeing has paid out more than $3.8 billion total through fines, settlements, and funds. But over 90% of cases settled privately, avoiding public verdicts.
This ruling came after seven years of work. It shows the long road for families seeking justice in court.
How This Compares to Other Verdicts
This is not the first jury decision from Flight 302 cases in Chicago. In November 2025, another Illinois jury awarded over $28 million to the family of Shikha Garg. She was a United Nations worker who died on the same flight.
Garg’s family later got $35.85 million after adding 26% interest. Boeing chose not to appeal that one. The Stumo award tops the initial Garg jury amount, even before any interest.
These two cases act as benchmarks. They help show what juries think lives on Flight 302 are worth. Families with unsettled claims can point to them in talks with Boeing.
| Case | Flight | Jury Award | Final Amount | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stumo | 302 | $49.5M | $49.5M | May 2026 |
| Garg | 302 | $28M | $35.85M (with interest) | Nov 2025 |
Broader Impact on Boeing and 737 MAX Litigation
Boeing has resolved most claims out of court. This keeps details private and costs predictable. But the public trials like Stumo’s put pressure on the company.
The 737 MAX program faced years of fixes and oversight. Airlines returned the planes to service after software updates and training changes. Still, trust took a hit, and legal bills keep coming.
A small number of cases remain open. Each verdict adds to the total cost and shapes future deals. For Boeing, these rulings highlight ongoing fallout from the 2018 and 2019 crashes.
The Stumo decision keeps the story alive seven years later. It reminds everyone of the human cost behind the headlines.
Conclusion
The $49.5 million award to Samya Rose Stumo’s family closes one chapter in a painful saga. It underscores the value courts place on lives lost in the Boeing 737 MAX crashes. While most families have settled, these jury wins set examples for those still fighting. Boeing’s path to full recovery from the disasters continues, with lessons in safety and accountability at the forefront.
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