Date set for delayed inquest after Exmouth woman killed in plane crash

An inquest into the deaths of British citizens killed in a Boeing 737 MAX crash more than four years ago will take place on Monday (10 July).

Joanna Toole, a 36-year-old United Nations consultant who grew up in Exmouth, was one of 157 passengers who died in March 2019 when Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 crashed six minutes after takeoff.

The inquest proceedings had been delayed as a result of the Ethiopian government being slow to publish a final accident report.

The crash was one of two involving Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft, and led to it being grounded worldwide. The other took place in October 2018 in Indonesia 13 minutes after takeoff, killing 189 people.

Adrian and Joanna Toole (Adrian Toole)

Both incidents were linked to a safety system in the aircraft called MCAS. The system would push the nose of the plane down to counteract the plane's tendency to pitch up due to the higher position of the engines on its wings.

Joanna Toole had been on her way to give a presentation on ocean plastic pollution to the UN Environment Assembly in Kenya.

Her father Adrian Toole said: "The delays up to this point have been completely unacceptable but now with the inquest there's an opportunity to get at the answers we all need.

"All the families have ever asked for is truth and transparency and this inquest will be a key part of seeing that realised.

"Joanna was a star, a selfless, special person, with a big heart and a passion to improve the lives of animals and the environment.

"She touched all who knew her and her loss is incalculable.

"A verdict of unlawful killing would go a long way to making it clear that those responsible will be identified and the concerns of so many of us finally addressed."

Vincent Nichol, a specialist aviation solicitor representing the families, said: "The delays to the publication of the air accident report meant the families have had to endure a long wait for answers regarding the crash that lead to the death of their loved ones.

"The accident report does not blame the pilots, or the impact of the aircraft striking birds or any other external event; while public documents demonstrate an admission of fraud by Boeing.

"These issues will be considered by the coroner at the inquest and the families will be seeking a verdict of unlawful killing."

The inquest will take place at a coroner's court in Horsham, West Sussex on Monday 10 July and is expected to last for one day.