AI to pay compensations by August

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jul 29: Air India Counsel H. D. Nanavathi informed the families of the victims of the Mangalore plane crash of May 22 that it was legally impossible to satisfy their demands for equal compensation. He added that the precedent of paying equal compensation to the families of all the victims of any plane crash was non existent. 

Reportedly Nanavathi explained the matter further by saying that the worth of the deceased will be taken into consideration while deciding the amount of compensation. The families of those who earned high incomes will get higher compensation; however the AI will make all efforts to ensure that everybody will get the highest possible compensation. He said that the compensation will be paid during the first week of August. 

The association of families of plane crash victims has planned to convene a general body meeting to discuss the issue of equal compensation to all the families. In a letter written to the secretary of the department of civil aviation, the association had demanded that the compensation and the insurance terms should be equal for all the victims because they had paid equal airfare. They had demanded the highest justified compensation for all families “irrespective of their status, income, and net worth.” 

Reportedly, Nanavathi told the families that the amount paid as compensation will be made known to them soon. The legal heir will be expected to sign a document to the effect that the compensation paid will not be challenged in court after it has been accepted. The maximum compensation that the families can expect according to the Montreal Convention is Rs. 76 lakh. 

Arvind Jadhav, the chairman and managing director of AI, told the families during the meeting that each family will receive Rs. 70,000 to compensate the loss of baggage. The unidentified items have been exhibited and their rightful owners can identify and claim them, he said. He also called upon the families to apply for jobs in AI.