Boeing Lawsuit

In recent years, the Boeing Company has faced heightened scrutiny following a series of aviation accidents. These incidents have resulted in the tragic loss of life and also exposed significant concerns about the design and functionality of certain Boeing aircraft.

Notable Boeing accidents include:

• Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370: On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370) lost contact with Subang Air Traffic Control and disappeared from radar. The aircraft was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members. While some debris from the plane has since been found, the plane itself and its passengers have never been found. The aircraft was a Boeing 777-200IGW.
• Indonesian Lion Air Airliner Crash: On October 29, 2018, 189 passengers were presumed dead when their plane, Lion Air Flight JT 610, crashed into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff from Jakarta. Multiple technical problems and issues allegedly contributed to the tragic accident. The aircraft was a Boeing 737 MAX 8.
• Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302: On March 10, 2019, 149 passengers and 8 crew members were killed when their plane, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, crashed within minutes of takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Pilots claim the plane experienced dips in altitude and went into a nosedive during the initial climb. The aircraft was a new Boeing 737 MAX 8.
• KLM Flight 1204: On December 28, 2024, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Flight 1204 made an emergency landing at Oslo Torp Sandefjord Airport after experiencing what seemed to have been a hydraulic failure shortly after takeoff. While landing, the plane veered off the runway and stopped on soft grass. There were no passenger or crew injuries reported. The aircraft was a Boeing 737-800.
• Jeju Air Flight 2216: On December 29, 2024, 179 people were killed when Jeju Air Flight 7C 2216 landed without its landing gear deployed on the runway. It skidded at high speed off the runway and into a concrete structure, where it burst into flames. The pilots reported a bird strike, but the cause of the tragic accident is still in question. The aircraft was a Boeing 737-800.
• Air India Flight AI171: On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after its departure in Ahmedabad, India, on its way to London Gatwick Airport. According to data from FlightRadar24, the plane lost signal around 625 feet, though no official statement has been made on what caused the crash. The aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the first of its kind to crash. Just one of the 242 passengers and crew members aboard the plane survived the crash.

Boeing’s history of aircraft safety and compliance failures has prompted a wave of legal consequences in civil and criminal courts. These legal issues continue to fuel a serious line of questioning around corporate accountability. Boeing faces many product liability, personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Other formal investigations into their safety and compliance failures are also ahead for the company.

Some of these investigations include:

• A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspection into the Boeing 787 Dreamliner issues regarding its lithium-ion batteries.
• A FAA grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft after two crashes.
• An FBI investigation into the Alaska Airlines flight where a door panel flew off the aircraft mid-flight.

In May of 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) dropped a criminal charge against Boeing regarding two fatal 737 MAX jet crashes. Instead, the DOJ came to a non-prosecution agreement with Boeing. It stated, “The agreement guarantees further accountability and substantial benefits from Boeing immediately, while avoiding the uncertainty and litigation risk presented by proceeding to trial.” Under this agreement, Boeing agreed to pay $444.5 million into a fund for the victims of these plane crashes and avoided pleading guilty in this case.

Boeing was also involved in a wrongful death lawsuit for a previous Boeing employee, John Barnett. In his 30-year career at Boeing, Barnett worked at plants in Washington and South Carolina. After expressing safety concerns with Boeing’s manufacturing practices, Barnett became a whistleblower, exposing several safety and compliance failures.

In March 2024, Barnett was found dead in Charleston, South Carolina, before the third day of his deposition relating to his Boeing whistleblower case. Barnett’s death was declared a suicide, and his family pursued a wrongful death lawsuit against Boeing. In May of 2025, the lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount.

The aviation litigation team at Motley Rice represents victims and families of victims of aviation disasters, including accidents involving Boeing aircraft. Motley Rice is not a criminal litigation firm. Motley Rice attorneys take the time to consult with potential clients and understand their situations to:

• Help determine their lawsuit eligibility
• Gather all necessary proof for the case
• Investigate what harms they experienced as a result of the aviation accident
• Litigate on their behalf in court

Aviation accident attorneys are available to hold responsible parties accountable for their various failures and to seek appropriate compensation for the victims.

What lawsuits is Boeing currently facing?

Boeing is currently facing a variety of lawsuits. This includes lawsuits from investors over financial losses after the Alaska Airlines door plug incident and the families of plane crash victims. Most recently, they settled a wrongful death lawsuit over the death of a Boeing whistleblower.

What is the latest Boeing settlement news?

In May of 2025, Boeing reached a settlement deal with the U.S. Justice Department to avoid prosecution for two fatal Boeing 737 MAX plane crashes. This non-prosecution agreement included an order for Boeing to put $444.5 million into a fund for plane crash victims.

Can I file a claim against Boeing for emotional or physical harm?

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a Boeing plane incident or crash, you may be eligible to file a claim against Boeing for emotional or physical harm. An attorney with aviation litigation experience can help you confirm your eligibility and seek justice for the harms you experienced. Keep in mind that compensation for these types of claims can vary depending on the unique facts of the case.

Is there a Boeing class action lawsuit?

Yes, class action lawsuits have been filed against Boeing. Shareholders have filed a class action lawsuit against Boeing after the Alaska Airlines incident. Passengers of the Alaska Airlines flight have also filed a class action lawsuit for the harms they experienced during the flight.

Motley Rice attorneys have experience with many aspects of aviation litigation and have represented victims and families of plane passengers who have experienced mechanical and safety failures firsthand. We have worked with clients from and/or on plane crashes in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and several other countries.

Our experience includes representing victims in litigation against:

• Airports
• Air traffic control
• Commercial aviation
• Helicopter owners
• Helicopter operators
• Government entities
• Maintenance contractors
• Manufacturers
• Private and on-demand aircraft

Read more on our aviation litigation experience.