Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman changed its name to Wisner Baum in January 2023.

Boeing Plane Crash

Boeing Plane Crash

The Boeing Company, which had been the world’s leader, is now the second largest airline manufacturer in the world behind Airbus. According to government statistics, Boeing aircraft have been involved in nearly 6,000 aviation accidents and incidents worldwide. Of those, 415 were fatal accidents, resulting in over 9,000 deaths.

On March 21, 2022, a Boeing 737-800 plane operating as China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 crashed in southern China. Authorities say the plane began losing altitude at 30,000 feet then entered a steep nosedive and crashed into terrain - Read our blog for more details

After two devastating commercial plane crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people, The Boeing Company paid more than $2.5 billion for defrauding the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The total resolution included a criminal penalty of $243.6 million. Another $1.7 billion was allocated for airlines that purchased 737 MAX aircraft to make up for lost revenue when the aircraft was grounded during a lengthy investigation. The remaining $500 million went into a fund to help compensate the families of those killed in the Lion Air Flight 610 crash in 2018 and the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash in 2019.

Boeing issued an apology for the crashes. Former CEO Dennis Muilenburg admitted that the automated flight control system on the two 737 MAX aircraft played a role in the tragedies. According to Muilenburg, “it’s apparent that in both flights the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, known as MCAS, activated in response to erroneous angle of attack information.”

In November of 2021, Boeing agreed to acknowledge responsibility for the ET302 crash in lawsuits filed by surviving families. Under the agreement, Boeing admitted that the “737 MAX had an unsafe condition, and that it will not attempt to blame anyone else" for the fatal Ethiopian Airlines crash.

Boeing and the United States government secretly negotiated a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) without input from the families of the victims of the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes. The purpose of the DPA, apparently, is to allow Boeing to get away with its apparently criminal neglect of its responsibility to ensure its airplanes are safe, without severe criminal penalties. Families of victims are challenging the DPA pursuant to the provisions of the Crime Victims Rights Act, and demanding that they be heard, and their views considered, before a court agrees to the proposed agreement.

Aviation attorneys from the national law firm of Wisner Baum represented several families who lost loved ones in the Lion Air JT610 crash and the ET302 crash and support the effort to demand effective criminal sanctions for the failure of Boeing to prioritize safety over profits, resulting in the deaths of 346 people.

“Make no mistake, Boeing rushed the design and manufacture of the 737 MAX to keep pace with its competitors. The company’s misconduct caused both the Lion Air crash and the Ethiopian Airlines crash, which were both preventable.”
Aviation Attorney Ronald L. M. Goldman
“Boeing could have and should have communicated known safety issues to the FAA, but they didn’t. Hundreds of people died because Boeing chose profit over people.”
Aviation Attorney Clay Robbins III

Investigations into these preventable tragedies noted that Boeing has a “disturbing pattern of technical miscalculations and troubling management misjudgments” relating to its safety record on the 737 MAX aircraft. While the 737 MAX litigation may seem like an outlier, the truth is Boeing aircraft have been involved in numerous aviation accidents and incidents over the years.

Wisner Baumaviation attorneys have represented hundreds of claimants in lawsuits against Boeing. If you are interested in vindicating your legal rights, please contact us or call (855) 948-5098 today. We offer free and confidential case evaluations.

Aviation Accident Attorneys | Lawsuits Filed Involving Boeing Aircraft

Wisner Baum has a proven track record in cases against major airlines and The Boeing Company stemming from preventable plane crashes and other incidents. Since 1990, our case history involving Boeing aircraft includes:

  • Boeing 737 | Southwest Airlines Flight 812 | Inflight fuselage skin peel over Yuma, Arizona – 2011
  • Boeing 777-200 | United Airlines Flight 967 | Inflight turbulence from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles – 2010
  • Boeing 737-7H4 | Southwest Airlines Flight 1248 | Runway accident at Midway International Airport, Chicago, Illinois – 2005
  • Boeing 767-222 | United Airlines Flight 175 | Hijacking and crash into the World Trade Center, New York City, New York – 2001
  • Boeing 757-223 | American Airlines Flight 77 | Hijacking and crash into the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia – 2001
  • Boeing 757-223 | United Airlines Flight 93 | Hijacking and crash near Shanksville, Pennsylvania – 2001
  • Boeing 747-400 | Singapore Airlines Flight SQ006 | Runway crash Chiang Kai-shek International Airport (now Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport), Taipei, Taiwan – 2000
  • Boeing 737 | Southwest Airlines Flight 1455 | Runway accident at Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport, Burbank, California – 2000
  • Boeing 767 | EgyptAir Flight 990 | Crash near Nantucket Island, Massachusetts – 1999
  • Boeing 767 | United Airlines Flight 81 | Inflight mishap, LaGuardia to LAX – 1998
  • Boeing 747-300 | Korean Air Lines Flight 801| Accident, Agana, Guam – 1997
  • Boeing 747-131 | TWA Flight 800 | Explosion near East Moriches, New York – 1996
  • Boeing 757 | American Airlines Flight 965 | Accident near Cali, Colombia – 1995
  • Boeing 737-3B7 | USAir Flight 427 | Crash near Aliquippa, Pennsylvania – 1994
  • Boeing 767-2S1ER | TACA Airlines Flight 510 | Runway accident at La Aurora International Airport Guatemala – 1993
  • Boeing 747-100 | United Airlines Flight 852 | Inflight turbulence between Japan and San Francisco – 1992
  • Boeing 737-300 | USAir | Inflight emergency between Los Angeles and Florida – 1991
  • Boeing 737-200 | United Airlines Flight 585 | Crash in Colorado Springs, Colorado – 1991
  • Boeing 737-3B7 | USAir Flight 1493 and SkyWest Airlines Flight 5569 | Runway collision, Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California – 1991
  • Boeing 727 | Northwest Airlines Flight 1482 and Northwest Airlines Flight 299 | Runway collision at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Romulus, Michigan – 1990

Wisner Baum’s Complete Airline Crash Case History

The Boeing Company

The Boeing Company is an American aerospace company that designs, manufactures, and sells planes, rotorcraft, satellites, missiles, rockets, and telecommunications equipment. It is the largest exporter in the U.S. by dollar value and is the third-largest defense contractor in the world.

​In 2021, Boeing was listed as the fourth-largest defense contractor in the United States. Roughly 25% of the company’s 141,000 employees works in the commercial airplanes department, which is responsible for designing, assembling, marketing, and selling commercial jets to airlines around the world. The commercial airplane department also provides product maintenance and training to its customer base.

While airline accidents are rare, Boeing aircraft have been involved in many over the last few years. In 2018, there were 41 total commercial flight accidents, and of that total, 18 involved Boeing 737s, more than any other plane. That same year, several Boeing 737s ran off runways, landed short of runways, or had their tails strike the ground. Prior to the worldwide grounding of the MAX, the aircraft had a fatal accident rate of one in every 200,000 flights. According to investigative reporter Peter Robison, that fatal accident rate represented “a frequency not seen since the early days of the jet age.” Robison notes that a Boeing executive found that one in 25 MAX airplanes experienced some kind of safety issue in the months after delivery.

The crashes of ET302 and JT610, along with the investigations that followed, damaged Boeing’s reputation in the aviation community. The global ban on the 737 MAX aircraft, which lasted nearly two years, cost Boeing billions. In addition to the $2.5 billion settlement with the U.S. Justice Department, a federal grand jury indicted a top pilot formerly with the company for deceiving the FAA and “scheming to defraud” Boeing’s airline customers. In November, of 2021, the company also settled a lawsuit filed by shareholders alleging Boeing failed to properly oversee the company and allowed lapses that led to the 2018 and 2019 crashes.

Robison’s book, ‘Flying Blind’, notes that Boeing’s downfall can be traced to a shift from a company that decades ago invested in new aircraft and valued engineering pedigree to a company whose sole obsession was stock market investors. Per Robison, Boeing “executed what today might be called the standard corporate playbook: anti-union, regulation-light, outsourcing-heavy,” which essentially valued profit above all else, including human lives.

"Boeing is not the same as it was two years ago but they have more to work to do.” - FAA chief Steve Dickson (Nov. 2021)

Boeing Commercial Plane Models

Since the beginning of the commercial jet era, Boeing has manufactured and sold more than 20,000 planes. The company currently has thousands of pending orders for its 737 MAX aircraft and other models.

Boeing Planes in Production

Model

Total Built

Capacity

First Flight

Variants (Previous and Current)

737

10,478

85-215

1967

737-100, 737-200, 737-300, 737-400, 737-500, 737-600, 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, 737 MAX 7, 737 MAX 8,

737 MAX 9, 737 MAX 10

747

1,548

467-605

1969

747-100, 747SR, 747-100B, 747SP,

747-200, 747-300, 747-400, 747 LCF,

747-8

767

1,135

180-375

1981

767-200, 767-2C, 767-200ER, 767-300,

767-300ER, 767-300F, 767-400ER

777

1,584

301-550

1994

777-200, 777-200ER, 777-200LR,

777-300, 777-300ER, 777 Freighter,

777-300ER Special Freighter, 777X

787

789

210-330

2009

787-8, 787-9, 787-10, BBJ 787

Boeing Planes in Service (No Longer in Production)

  • 717-200
  • 727
  • 757

Boeing Accident Statistics

The following data from AirSafe represents fatal accidents involving Boeing aircraft. The criteria for a “fatal event” includes circumstances where at least one passenger on a Boeing air flight died from causes directly related to the operation of that aircraft. This includes deliberate acts by another passenger, crew member, or someone not on the aircraft (i.e. sabotage, hijacking, or military action). Excluded in the data are circumstances in which the only deaths were hijackers, saboteurs, or stowaways.

Model

Fatal Events

Boeing 737 (All Models)

83

Boeing 727

51

Boeing 737-100 / 200

50

Boeing 747-100 / 200 / 300 / SP

26

Boeing 737-300 / 400 / 500

19

Boeing 737-600 / 700 / 800 / 900

12

Boeing 757

9

Boeing 767

6

Boeing 737 MAX 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

2

Boeing 747-400

2

Which Airlines Fly Boeing Planes?

As of 2021, there are 577 different airlines flying more than 9,600 Boeing planes throughout the world. The following U.S. airlines have purchased the most Boeing aircraft:

United Airlines

Current Fleet: 853 aircraft

Boeing Planes in Fleet:

  • 737-800 – 141
  • 737-900ER – 136
  • 777 – 96
  • 787 – 63
  • 757 – 61
  • 767 – 54
  • 737-700 – 53
  • 737 MAX 9 – 30
  • 737 MAX 8 – 14

United Airlines has been Boeing’s best customer in the U.S. Since purchasing Boeing’s 707 in 1959, United Airlines has purchased over 1,850 Boeing aircraft. While the airline does own and operate roughly 210 Airbus planes, Boeing jets represent the overwhelming majority of aircraft in United’s fleet.

The airline utilizes several models, from the 767-300ER to the 737 MAX. United is currently waiting on pending orders from Boeing for:

  • 737 MAX 8 – 40
  • 737 MAX 9 – 49
  • 737 MAX 10 – 92

Southwest Airlines

Current Fleet: 737

Boeing Planes in Fleet:

  • 737-700 – 461
  • 737-800 – 207

Southwest Airlines has purchased more than 1,200 Boeing planes in its history. Since it began flying commercial flights in 1971, the low-budget airline has flown all of the classic 737 models. According to Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly, the airline remains strongly committed to the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft despite the safety issues unearthed during the Lion Air and Ethiopian Air crashes.

According to Simple Flying, as of 2021, Southwest has nearly 350 MAXs on order (150 MAX 7s and 200 MAX 8s).

American Airlines

Current Fleet: 897

Boeing Planes in Fleet:

  • 737-800 – 303
  • 777 – 67
  • 787 – 46
  • 737 MAX 8 – 41

American Airlines is the world’s largest airline by fleet. Since 1958, American has purchased more than 1,088 Boeing planes. In 2011, the airline placed an order with Boeing for 200 737s. Half of that order changed to 737 MAX 8s in 2013.

According to Simply Flying, Boeing planes represent a little more than half of the jets in American’s fleet. American has pending orders for another 102 aircraft from Boeing. The airline also flies Airbus planes.

Which Airlines Fly Boeing MAX Planes?

In addition to United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and American Airlines, the following air carriers fly Boeing 737 MAX aircraft:

Airline Plane In Fleet To Be Delivered
9 Air MAX 8 1 3
Aeromexico MAX 8, MAX 9 18 10
Air Canada MAX 8 28 11
Air Changan MAX 8 2
Air China MAX 8 16 15
Air Europa MAX 8 2
Alaska Airlines MAX 9 8 6
Batik Air Malaysia MAX 8 3
Belavia MAX 8 1 4
Blue Air MAX 8 4 1
Buzz MAX 200 6 2
Caribbean Airlines MAX 8 4
China Eastern Airlines MAX 8 3 4
China Southern Airlines MAX 8 24 25
Corendon Airlines MAX 8 1 2
Donghai Airlines MAX 8 3
Eastar Jet MAX 8 2 4
Enerjet MAX 8 3
Ethiopian Airlines MAX 8 4 4
Flair Airlines MAX 8 8 5
flydubai MAX 8, MAX 9 21 5
Fuzhou Airlines MAX 8 2 2
GECAS MAX 8 7 2
GOL Transportes Aéreos MAX 8 16 7
Hainan Airlines MAX 8 11 3
Icelandair MAX 8, MAX 9 9 1
Korean Air Lines MAX 8 5
Kunming Airlines MAX 8 2 4
Lion Air MAX 8 9 4
LOT - Polish Airlines MAX 8 5 7
Lucky Air MAX 8 3 4
Malta Air MAX 200 14 2
NordStar Airlines MAX 8 3
Okay Airways MAX 8 2 2
Oman Air MAX 8 8 4
Royal Air Maroc MAX 8 2 2
Ryanair MAX 200 8 23
S7 - Siberia Airlines MAX 8 2 6
Shandong Airlines MAX 8 7 9
Shanghai Airlines MAX 8 11 9
Shenzhen Airlines MAX 8 5 10
Singapore Airlines MAX 8 6 8
Smartwings MAX 8 7 11
SpiceJet MAX 8 13 15
Sriwijaya Air MAX 9 1
SunExpress MAX 8 6
Turkish Airlines MAX 8, MAX 9 24 1
Ural Airlines MAX 8 2
Urumqi Air MAX 8 3
UTair Aviation MAX 8 3
Xiamen Airlines MAX 8 10 18

The worldwide grounding of the MAX model caused a 20% reduction in MAX production at Boeing. Nevertheless, it is estimated that Boeing will deliver roughly 40 aircraft per month to fulfill standing MAX orders.

Aviation Attorneys with Decades of Experience Litigating Against Boeing

Aviation attorneys from the national law firm of Wisner Baum have the experience and expertise necessary to prevail in cases against major aircraft manufacturers like Boeing. Since 1973, our firm has represented more than 790 commercial aircraft passengers and crew members. We are the first U.S. law firm to win a public apology from an airline following a plane crash. Across all areas of practice, the firm has won more than $4 billion in verdicts and settlements.

Any legal action against a major aviation company requires representation that is up to the task. As our track record demonstrates, we know what it takes to win big cases against big companies.

Call (855) 948-5098 or contact us today to speak with our legal team.

Contact Us Today

No Fees Unless We Win
  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • +1
    Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please enter your city.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.
  • A Major US Plane Crash $17.5 Million Settlement

    Wisner Baum obtained a $17.5 million settlement on behalf of a client who was killed in a major U.S. plane crash.

  • A Major US Plane Crash $14 Million Settlement

    Wisner Baum obtained a $14 million settlement for the death of a passenger in a major US plane crash.

  • Helicopter Crash $12 Million Settlement

    Wisner Baum secured a $12 million settlement for a passenger who was injured in a helicopter crash.

  • A Major Foreign Plane Crash $10 Million Settlement

    Wisner Baum obtained a $10 million settlement for the death of a passenger in a major foreign plane crash.

  • Best Law Firms 2023
    Best Law Firms 2023

    A ranking in The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” is widely regarded by both client and legal professionals as a significant honor. It is considered the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere.

  • The Truck Safety Coalition
    The Truck Safety Coalition

    Wisner Baum is proud to be a sponsor of The Truck Safety Coalition, a a group of caring individuals dedicated to reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by truck-related crashes. Our support enables them to help families and save lives.

  • California Powerhouse
    California Powerhouse

    Law360 recognizes law firms that have a strong regional presence, working on important matters within their home state. “[Wisner Baum] possesses a David v. Goliath-sized slingshot while seeking justice for everyday citizens it believes were harmed or killed through corporate wrongdoing.”

  • Elite Trial Lawyers
    Elite Trial Lawyers

    NLJ and American Lawyer Media honor law firms and attorneys as Elite Trial Lawyers for their cutting-edge legal work on behalf of plaintiffs in practice areas ranging from mass torts to securities litigation.

  • Listed in Best Lawyers
    Listed in Best Lawyers

    Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. A listing in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers.

  • AV Top Ranked Law Firm
    AV Top Ranked Law Firm

    Less than one-half of one percent of firms across the nation have achieved this ranking. A firm must have a high percentage of lawyers who have achieved the prestigious AV® Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell®.

  • Verdicts Hall of Fame
    Verdicts Hall of Fame

    The National Law Journal inducted Wisner Baum into the Verdicts Hall of Fame for obtaining the $2 billion landmark verdict in the Roundup cancer case of Pilliod et al. v. Monsanto. The verdict was #1 in California and #2 in the U.S. in 2019 and is #9 in American history.

  • Super Lawyers
    Super Lawyers

    Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

  • National Trial Lawyers Top 100
    National Trial Lawyers Top 100

    The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 recognized the law firms of Wisner Baum, the Miller Firm and Audet & Partners with the 2019 Trial Team of the Year award (in the Mass Torts category) for their work in the groundbreaking case of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson v. Monsanto Company.

  • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
    AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated

    An AV® rating reflects an attorney who has reached the heights of professional excellence. The rating signifies the highest legal ability, and very high adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability, and diligence.

  • Avvo 10.0 Rating
    Avvo 10.0 Rating

    Wisner Baum is proud to have all of its lawyers listed in Avvo, a legal directory connecting people in need of legal services with lawyers and connecting lawyers to lawyers. Eight of our attorneys have earned a 10.0 perfect rating with Avvo.

  • Top Jury Verdict in <br> CA and USA
    Top Jury Verdict in
    CA and USA

    TopVerdict.com ranks our $2 billion verdict in Pilliod et al. v. Monsanto as the biggest verdict in California and the second largest verdict in the U.S. in 2019. It is the ninth largest verdict in U.S. history.

  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers
    Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers

    Published annually, the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list recognizes the “best of the best” in this area of the law through nominations, research, and review by a board of their peers.

  • Product Liability Practice Group of the Year
    Product Liability Practice Group of the Year

    In 2020, Law360 honored the law firms ”behind the litigation wins and major deals that resonated throughout the legal industry.” It recognized our success in several landmark cases.

  • Top Personal Injury Jury Verdict in California
    Top Personal Injury Jury Verdict in California

    In 2018, our $289 million Johnson v. Monsanto verdict was the largest personal injury verdict in California. TopVerdict.com also ranked it #2 among all verdicts in California and #10 in the nation.

  • Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
    Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers

    The Bar Register is the definitive guide to the most distinguished law firms in America. It includes only those select law practices that have earned the highest rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and have been designated by their colleagues as preeminent in their field.

/

Firm Reviews

What Our Clients Are Saying
  • I Can’t Imagine a Better Law Firm

    “Multiple lawyers recommended Wisner Baum to me and I have been consistently impressed with the quality of their work.”

    - Best Law Firms Survey
  • They Are About Changing the Systems...

    “Wisner Baum are not only amazing attorneys but more importantly, they are activists. They are about changing the systems which got us into trouble in the first place. They understand their role in the process of making change.”

    - Kim Witczak
  • Top Legal Minds in the Country

    “The Wisner Baum firm has some of the top legal minds in the country; they are driven, determined, trustworthy, ethical and passionate.”

    - From Best Lawyers® Best Law Firms
  • Diligent & Professional Representation

    “Thanks to your efforts I was able to recover from a tragic experience and turn my life around for the best.”

    - W.T.
  • Our Best Interest Was Always Number One on Your List

    “A special thank you to your Spanish-speaking staff for the extra effort put into this case. The language barrier was never a problem, and we are so very thankful to them. Your name holds much respect in our family.”

    - G.C. & C.C
/