Boeing pledges $100 million to help 737 MAX crash families
None
Boeing Co said on Wednesday it would give $100 million over multiple years to local governments and non-profit organizations to help families and communities affected by the deadly crashes of its 737 MAX planes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.
The move is a step toward repairing the image of the world's largest planemaker, which has been severely dented by the crashes and its sometimes clumsy response to them.
Boeing faces probes by global regulators and U.S. lawmakers over the development of the 737 MAX, as well as more than 100 lawsuits by the families of victims of a Lion Air crash in October and Ethiopian Airlines in March, which together killed 346 people.
The multiyear payout is independent of the lawsuits, a Boeing spokesman said, meaning it will not go directly to the families.
The $100 million is meant to help with education and living expenses and to spur economic development in affected communities, Boeing said, without specifying which authorities or organizations would receive the money. It also said it will match any employee donations through December.
"The families and loved ones of those on board have our deepest sympathies, and we hope this initial outreach can help bring them comfort," said Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg.
