A Brampton, Ontario, man who endured the unimaginable loss of six family members in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 disaster has finally reached a confidential settlement with aircraft manufacturer Boeing. The agreement marks a legal conclusion to a painful chapter that began on March 10, 2019.
A Family Lost in Tragedy
Manant Vaidya's world shattered when Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 plunged to the ground shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa. The crash claimed 157 lives, including those of Vaidya's two parents, his sister, his brother-in-law, and his two young nieces. The family was on board the Boeing 737 MAX 8 jetliner, a model that was later globally grounded due to fatal flaws in its flight control system.
In an emotional interview with The Canadian Press in March 2019, Vaidya shared his grief from his Brampton home. The settlement, announced on January 14, 2026, comes nearly seven years after the tragedy, following extensive legal proceedings between Boeing and families of the victims worldwide.
The Long Road to Accountability
The crash of Flight ET302, along with the earlier Lion Air Flight 610 disaster in October 2018, exposed critical safety failures in the design and certification of the Boeing 737 MAX. Investigations revealed that a malfunctioning system known as MCAS repeatedly pushed the planes' noses down, overwhelming the pilots. These findings led to a 20-month worldwide grounding of the MAX fleet, billions in losses for Boeing, and a storm of lawsuits and criminal investigations.
Vaidya's settlement is part of a broader resolution by Boeing to compensate families affected by the two crashes. While the specific terms of his agreement remain private, such settlements typically aim to provide financial compensation for the profound loss, suffering, and economic impact experienced by surviving relatives.
Seeking Closure Amid Lasting Pain
For victims' families like Vaidya's, a legal settlement represents a form of accountability, though it can never truly compensate for the loss of loved ones. The case underscores the devastating human cost behind aviation disasters and the lengthy, complex pursuit of justice through multinational corporate litigation.
The resolution arrives as Boeing continues its efforts to rebuild its reputation and ensure the safety of its redesigned 737 MAX aircraft, which have since returned to service globally, including with Canadian carriers. For Manant Vaidya and the Brampton community that supported him, the settlement is a somber milestone on a journey of grief that continues far beyond the courtroom.
