Aviation Daily Brief - May 16, 2026

Legal Developments

• Boeing Verdict in Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX Crash: A U.S. federal jury awarded $49.5 million to the family of Samya Stumo, a victim of the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 disaster. This ruling represents another legal challenge for Boeing related to the 737 MAX crisis. Reports were published on May 15, 2026.

Airport Operations

• Ground Delay at Nashville International Airport (BNA): The FAA issued a ground delay for inbound flights due to staffing issues, effective from approximately 22:00 UTC on May 15 for several hours. This was reported by FOX Nashville.

Recent Incidents

• easyJet Lightning Strike Return: An easyJet Airbus A319 returned to London Gatwick after experiencing a lightning strike during climb-out on a flight to Italy. The incident occurred on May 14 but was reported on May 15. It is noted for context but falls outside the strict recency criteria.

General Notes

• No major breaking aviation incidents, such as crashes or hijackings, were reported in the 24-hour window.