737-800 Went Down Just After Departure From Beirut

Lawyers have filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Boeing on behalf of the families of those who were aboard an Ethiopian Airlines 737-800 that went down just after takeoff from Beirut January 25th. The airliner went down in the Mediterranean during what was described as a "fierce" storm.

The suit, filed in Chicago, charges that there was a severe mechanical failure of the aircraft or a maintenance problem, though no official cause of the accident has been determined. "Our aviation expert believes that simple pilot error could not have brought down the plane," Manuel von Ribbeck, of the US firm Ribbeck Law, told the international news service AFP.

Lebanese Transportation Minister Ghazi Aridi has said that data recovered from the FDR indicates all instruments were operating at the time of the impact.

Ribbeck said the $20,000 per passenger offered by Boeing's insurance company was "insufficient", and that he would be seeking compensation of up to $1 million each. He said the same insurance companies have offered far more in other accidents.

Boeing said in a statement that it "extends its deep condolences to the families and friends of those lost in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 in Lebanon," but company policy prevents further comment on ongoing litigation.

FMI: www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/home/, www.boeing.com