With the future of the Boeing 737 MAX up in the air and reports circulating that US investigators are probing the 787 Dreamliner, Boeing has announced it will allocate USD 100 million in funds to address “family and community needs of those affected by the tragic accidents of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302”.
“These funds will support education, hardship and living expenses for impacted families, community programs, and economic development in impacted communities,” the plane maker said.
Two fatal crashes of the B737 MAX (Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air) killed a total 346 people and led to worldwide grounding of the plane.
“Boeing will partner with local governments and non-profit organisations to address these needs,” Boeing’s chairman, president and chief executive, Dennis Muilenburg, stated.
“This initial investment will be made over multiple years. We at Boeing are sorry for the tragic loss of lives in both of these accidents and these lives lost will continue to weigh heavily on our hearts and on our minds for years to come.
“The families and loved ones of those on board have our deepest sympathies, and we hope this initial outreach can help bring them comfort.
“We know every person who steps aboard one of our airplanes places their trust in us. We are focused on re-earning that trust and confidence from our customers and the flying public in the months ahead.”
Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg with President Donald Trump in South Carolina at the rollout of the first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner in 2017.
Boeing said it would release additional information in the near future.
It added that “consistent with Boeing’s regular process for employee charitable donations” company employees would also have the opportunity to donate in support of the families and communities impacted by the accidents. Boeing would match those employee donations for the rest of this year.
Just days ago, a report in the Seattle Times said that US federal prosecutors had subpoenaed records from Boeing relating to the production of the 787 Dreamliner in South Carolina.
The Seattle Times mentioned allegations of shoddy work at the South Carolina 787 plant, attributing anonymous sources “familiar with the investigation”. The paper said the sources told it the subpoena was issued by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) which is also conducting an investigation into the certification and design of the 737 MAX. See: Will Boeing 737 MAX probe flow through to Dreamliner?
Boeing’s flagship Dreamliner, in both its 787-8 and longer 787-9 version, is in wide use around the world, with the 787-10 variant – the longest of the three, following in their wake.
Written by Peter Needham
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