Jury Awards $49.5 Million To Family Of Boeing 737 MAX Victim
A federal jury in Chicago on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, awarded $49.5 million in compensatory damages to the family of 24-year-old Samya Stumo, who died in the March 10, 2019 crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.[1]
Boeing had already admitted responsibility in the case, so the trial in Chicago addressed only the amount of compensatory damages rather than liability.[1] The jury apportioned the $49.5 million as $21 million for Stumo's experience on the fatal flight, $16.5 million for her family's loss of companionship and $12 million for the family's grief, her attorneys said.[1] Stumo's lawyers said they intend to pursue punitive damages on appeal against Boeing executives and suppliers after punitive claims were dismissed at trial.[1] Boeing issued a statement saying it is "deeply sorry" to families of victims of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and that it respects families' right to pursue claims in court.[1]
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed on March 10, 2019; Stumo was among those killed.[1] The verdict resolves one of the last remaining civil cases tied to the two 737 MAX crashes; in November 2025 a jury awarded more than $28 million to the family of another victim, Shikha Garg.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- A federal jury in Chicago on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, awarded $49.5 million in compensatory damages to the family of 24-year-old Samya Stumo, who was killed in the March 10, 2019 crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.
- Boeing had already admitted responsibility in the case, so the Chicago trial was limited to determining the amount of compensatory damages rather than liability.
- The jury’s $49.5 million award was apportioned as $21 million for Stumo’s experience on the fatal flight, $16.5 million for her family’s loss of companionship, and $12 million for the family’s grief, according to attorneys Shanin Specter and Elizabeth Crawford of Kline & Specter (the jury’s $49.5 million award).
- Stumo’s lawyers said they intend to pursue punitive damages on appeal against Boeing executives and suppliers after punitive claims were dismissed at the trial level.
- The verdict resolves one of the last remaining civil cases from the two 737 MAX crashes; in November 2025 a separate jury awarded more than $28 million to the family of Shikha Garg.
- Boeing issued a statement saying it is “deeply sorry” to families of victims of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and that it respects families’ right to pursue claims in court.
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- A federal jury in Chicago on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, awarded $49.5 million in compensatory damages to the family of 24-year-old Samya Stumo, who was killed in the March 10, 2019 crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.
- Boeing had already admitted responsibility for the crash in this case, so the Chicago trial was limited to determining the amount of compensatory damages rather than liability.
- The jury’s award included $21 million for Stumo’s experience on the fatal flight, $16.5 million for the family’s loss of her companionship, and $12 million for the family’s grief, according to attorneys Shanin Specter and Elizabeth Crawford of Kline & Specter.
- Stumo’s lawyers said they intend to pursue punitive damages against Boeing executives and suppliers on appeal after punitive claims were dismissed at the trial level.
- The article notes that this verdict resolves one of the last remaining civil cases from the two 737 MAX crashes, and that in November 2025 a separate jury awarded over $28 million to the family of another victim, Shikha Garg.
- Boeing issued a statement reiterating it is "deeply sorry" to families of victims of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and saying it respects families’ right to pursue claims in court.