Boeing pays victims who lost family members in Lion Air crash in Indonesia

Airplane manufacturer Boeing has settled the first lawsuit brought after October’s Lion Air crash, agreeing to pay 11 families of the victims.

Boeing has reached settlements with 11 families of victims from October’s Lion Air crash, the first agreements following two deadly crashes that killed 346 people, a plaintiffs lawyer said.

The Wisner Law Firm, which specialises in aviation cases, is also “optimistic” about reaching settlements on its remaining six cases for families affected by the crash in Indonesia, said lawyer Alexandra Wisner.

Families and colleagues of victims of Lion Air flight JT 610 cry on deck of Indonesian Navy ship KRI Banjarmasin. Picture: Getty

The settlements pay out at least $US1.2 million ($A1.8 million) per victim, a person familiar with the matter said.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Indonesian people examining debris of the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT 610 in Jakarta. Picture: AFP

The aviation giant still faces more than 100 lawsuits in federal court in Chicago following the Lion Air Crash and a second crash of an Ethiopian Airlines plane in March that led to the global grounding of the top-selling 737 MAX.

Boeing in July announced that it would spend $US100 million ($A147 million) on communities and families affected by the 737 MAX disasters.

Colleagues of victims of Lion Air flight JT 610 throw flowers on deck of Indonesian Navy ship KRI Banjarmasin. Picture: Getty

On Monday, the Boeing Financial Assistance Fund said it was open to accepting claims and would spend $US50 million ($A74 million) on immediate financial assistance to families.

The families of the 346 passengers will each receive about $US144,500 ($A213,000) and will not be required to waive the right to sue the company, said Kenneth Feinberg, the administrator of the fund.

Lion Air investigators examine part of the landing gear of the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT 610 at the port in northern Jakarta. Picture: AFP