Mangalore: Aircrash Victims' Families to Meet on Mar 13 for Further Action;

Mangalorean.com; Sat. March 12, 2011,

Mangalore, Mar 11: An association formed by the families of those who were victims / became disabled or injured in the Air India Express aircrash of May 2010 at Kenjar near Bajpe has convened a meeting of persons concerned to chalk out a plan for concerted and vigorous action. The details are as follows:

• Date: Sunday, March 13, 2011
• Time: 10 am
• Venue: Sahodaya Hall, Mission Compound, Balmatta, Mangalore.

In the ghastly crash, 158 passengers and crew had perished while 8 had managed to jump to safety. The very day, union civil aviation minister Praful Patel had airdashed to visit the spot and had given an assurance that compensation would be paid to the families in accordance with the provisions of the Montreal Convention. But it had remained only as a mere promise, feel the families.

As a follow-up of the said crash which attracted international focus and invited condolence messages from a number of heads of states as also international figures, the families have submitted memoranda over memoranda, held several meetings, led delegations and held demostrations to highlight the issue. A limited number of families have received compensation so far, but not on the basis of the Montreal Convention.

As the assurances given by the airline and the aviation minister are yet to be fulfilled, the victims' families have decided to obtain legal counsel at the global level and take further steps.

Speaking to Mangalorean.com, association president Y Mohammed Beary said the exact details of the compensation paid to each family have been sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. One Salaam has filed a suit in the matter of complensation in the high court of Kerala. The Montreal Convention states clearly that in the case of any pilot error, the compensation should be higher.

The Air India Express management has been thinking only in terms of economic losses and not non-economic losses. The latter has been stressed and safeguarded under the Montreal Convention. Far higher amounts are entitles under these clauses. The most alarming piece of information that Mangalorean.com has received is that only about 50 families have been paid compensation, that too on a lower side.

To redress all these grievances, the association will deliberate on the laws, clauses and provisions to take recourse to, said Mohammed Beary.