Boeing Cites Maritime Law in Opposing Lion Air Crash Jury Trial

The Boeing Co. argued Friday that a century-old statute enacted in the aftermath of the sinking of the Titanic tragedy prohibits lawsuits involving a 2018 airplane crash from being settled by jury trial.

Three US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit judges questioned lawyers for Boeing and family members of Lion Air Flight 610 crash victims about how the Death on the High Seas Act, enacted in 1920, applies to a damages case brought by the family members. That Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 aboard.

The Death on the High Seas Act ...