Boeing has pledged to commit $100 million to address family and community needs associated with the fatal crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, the company announced Wednesday. The funds will support education, hardship, and living expenses for affected families, community programs, and economic development in affected communities.
Boeing, which said it will allocate the investment over multiple years, plans to partner with local governments and non-profit organizations to administer the funds.
"We at Boeing are sorry for the tragic loss of lives in both of these accidents, and these lives lost will continue to weigh heavily on our hearts and on our minds for years to come,” said Boeing chairman and CEO Dennis Muilenburg. “The families and loved ones of those on board have our deepest sympathies, and we hope this initial outreach can help bring them comfort.
“We know every person who steps aboard one of our airplanes places their trust in us,” he added. “We are focused on re-earning that trust and confidence from our customers and the flying public in the months ahead."
Boeing said it would release more information on the plan "in the near future."