Malta Family Wins $49.5m in Boeing 737 MAX Tragedy

Imagine the quiet streets of Birkirkara, a bustling town in Malta’s heart, suddenly hushed. The sun dips below the Mediterranean, casting a warm glow over the balconies adorned with red Bougainvillea. But tonight, there’s no laughter, no chatter. The silence is heavy, a stark contrast to the usual hum of life. The reason? A family is grieving, their world shattered by a tragedy that happened thousands of miles away.

Last week, a US jury awarded $49.5 million in damages to the family of Maryam Mossalli, a Maltese national who lost her life in the 2019 crash of a Boeing 737 MAX jet operated by Ethiopian Airlines. The plane went down minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 on board, including Maryam and her husband, Ahmed Husain.

Maryam and Ahmed were returning to their home in Malta after a visit to family in Ethiopia. They were among the 35 nationalities represented on that fateful flight, ET302. The Boeing 737 MAX, a relatively new model, had a faulty automated flight control system, leading to the crash. The jury found Boeing’s negligence responsible for Maryam’s death.

News of the verdict reached Malta’s tight-knit community with a mix of relief and sadness. Relief that justice was served, sadness that it couldn’t bring back their loved one. “It’s a small comfort,” said a family friend, speaking on condition of anonymity. “But it’s important that Boeing is held accountable.”

Boeing has expressed its condolences to the victims’ families and agreed to pay compensation. However, the company maintains that its pilots could have saved the plane. This contradicts the jury’s findings and has drawn criticism from safety advocates.

Malta, with its strategic location and strong aviation sector, has a vested interest in this case. The country is home to several international airlines and is a major transit hub. The Transport Minister, Ian Borg, has stated that the government is closely following the developments, ensuring that safety remains the top priority.

“We’re committed to working with our European partners and international bodies to ensure that such tragedies never happen again,” Borg said in a recent interview.

The Boeing 737 MAX was grounded worldwide following the two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. It’s only recently been cleared to fly again after extensive safety upgrades. As the planes return to service, safety advocates are calling for stricter regulations and better pilot training.

For the Mossalli family, the fight for justice is far from over. They’re now seeking punitive damages, arguing that Boeing’s actions were reckless and malicious. Their lawyer, Nomaan Husain, has stated that they won’t rest until Boeing is held fully accountable.

“This is about more than just compensation,” Husain said. “It’s about ensuring that no other family has to go through what we’ve been through.”