AIE appoints observer to assist plane crash victims’ families

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Dec 5, 2011: Chandrakumar, the chief operating officer of AIE, said that R. P. Shahi, the former joint director general of civil aviation, has been appointed as an observer to assist the families of the victims of the  Mangalore plane crash of May 22, 2010 during the compensation claim procedure, which is scheduled to be continued on Dec 12. 

The national carrier expects to compensate the families of all victims before Dec 25.

 

 

Speaking further on the duties of the observer, Mr. Chandrakumar said that the victims’ families can approach Mr. Shahi whenever they cannot agree with H. D. Nanavathi of Mulla and Mulla. He also said that the procedure of compensation distribution will be held for 5 days and that the law firm has already contacted the victims’ families.

Mr. Chandrakumar said that the 53 families, who have hired a Swedish law firm called M/s Stephen and Erickson, will have to first withdraw that case if they want to claim compensation through Mulla and Mulla. 

Further, he said that 70 families have already been compensated and that Rs. 60 crore has already been distributed among the families of 77 victims. 

Victims’ families had objected to the system of paying uniform compensation of Rs. 25 lakh and Rs. 30 lakh each to the families of child and woman victims on grounds that this is in violation of the Montreal Treaty. These families wanted non-economic factors to be taken in consideration while distributing compensations. 

Mr. Chandrakumar assured that the newly appointed observer and the carrier’s law firm will protect the interests of each family while giving away compensation. 

The national carrier is also not keen on employing members of victims’ families although it had promised jobs to them immediately after the plane crash. Speaking on this issue, Mr. Chandrashekar said that the national carrier is facing difficulties and has been unable to pay its employees since September 2011. Stating that the company had not recruited anyone for the past several years, he said that it is not possible for the company to hire anyone, especially those who lack the technical qualifications required.