More families of victims of the Lion Air crash in Indonesia are joining a lawsuit against Boeing following an apology from the manufacturer’s CEO.
The Associated Press reported Monday that Dennis Muilenburg’s comment last week related to an automated flight system in the Boeing 737 Max aircraft involved in the fatal October crash has motivated more families to pursue a lawsuit.
{mosads}The Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) is suspected to have been involved in the Lion Air crash as well as a second crash in Ethiopia last month that also involved the 737 Max. The two crashes killed a total of 346 people.
Preliminary reports into both crashes have found that faulty sensor readings triggered the anti-stall system that pushed the plane’s nose down.
Families of 11 Lion Air victims on Monday said that they are joining dozens of others in suing Boeing, according to AP.
“Boeing’s CEO explicitly apologized to 346 passenger families,” said Merdian Agustin, whose husband died in the crash. “We hope this is good momentum to have compensation rights.”
Agustin said that she and others have not received 1.2 billion rupiah, which is approximately $85,000, in compensation that they are entitled to in Indonesia because they refused to sign a “release and discharge” document that would take away their right to sue Lion Air or Boeing.
“We refused to sign such a document containing statements that are treating our loved ones like lost baggage,” Agustin said. “It’s ridiculous and hurts us.”
Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.