Families of Ethiopian victims of the 2019 Boeing 737 Max crash have expressed deep anger and disappointment following reports that the U.S. Department of Justice is considering a non-prosecution agreement with Boeing — a deal that could shield the company from criminal accountability.
The 10 March 2019 disaster, which killed all 157 people on board Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, was one of two fatal crashes involving the 737 Max model that exposed serious flaws in the aircraft’s automated flight control systems. The two crashes together claimed 346 lives and led to the global grounding of the 737 Max fleet.
In Ethiopia, where national mourning followed the crash and dozens of families continue to seek justice, the potential U.S. decision has sparked renewed grief and fury.
“This is not just an American case — this is about the lives of our people,” said Alem Kebede, who lost her brother in the crash. “Boeing must be held accountable for its actions, not protected by secretive deals.”
Lawyers representing Ethiopian victims’ families, including international legal counsel, condemned the possible non-prosecution agreement as a “betrayal of justice.” Many argue that without meaningful prosecution, Boeing’s corporate culture will remain unchanged.
Ethiopian officials have yet to issue a formal statement on the matter, but civil society groups in Addis Ababa have called on the African Union and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to raise the issue diplomatically with Washington.
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s flagship carrier and one of the continent’s most respected aviation institutions, suffered significant reputational and financial damage after the crash. Despite its quick recovery, the emotional toll of the tragedy remains strong across Ethiopia.
Analysts say the U.S. government’s decision may affect broader perceptions of justice and corporate accountability in Africa, particularly when the victims are largely from developing countries.
“For Ethiopia and Africa, this is about equal justice,” said aviation analyst Tesfaye Bekele. “It cannot be that African lives are discounted in international legal processes.”
The Department of Justice in Washington has not finalized its decision, but if the non-prosecution deal proceeds, it would mean Boeing avoids a criminal trial over the fraud charges stemming from how it misled regulators about the plane’s safety features.
For the families of Flight 302 victims, however, the fight for justice is far from over. Many vow to continue pushing for full legal accountability — not just in the U.S., but also through international courts if necessary.