In Re Air Crash Over Taiwan Straits on May 25, 2002

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS ON FORUM NON CONVENIENS GROUNDS

On May 25, 2002, China Airlines flight CI611 crashed while en route from Taipei, Taiwan, to Hong Kong, resulting in the death of all 225 persons aboard. Heirs of 124 of the decedents have filed actions pending in this court against defendants Boeing Company and China Airlines. Both defendants move to dismiss all but three of these actions on forum non conve-niens grounds.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On May 25, 2002, China Airlines flight CI611, a regularly scheduled flight from Taipei, Taiwan to Hong Kong, China, crashed into Taiwanese waters. All 225 persons on board died in the crash. Heirs of 121 of the decedents filed actions that are pending in this court, and that are the subject of defendants’ motion to dismiss. Of these decedents, 111 were Taiwanese.

The aircraft involved in the accident was a Boeing 747-200 aircraft, registration B18255. China Airlines, a Taiwanese corporation, purchased the aircraft from defendant Boeing Company in 1979. Plaintiffs’ complaints state claims against Boeing and China Airlines for, inter alia, wrongful death, negligence, and strict products liability. Both defendants…