Mangalore Air Crash: 'Immediate Compensation if Swedish Authority Withdrawn'

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Dec 14: Nanavati, representing Air India, has been in dialogue with the families of victims relating to disbursement of compensation to them relating to Air India Express flight 812  crash in Mangalore Airport on May 22, 2010, which claimed 158 lives.  On the second day in succession on Tuesday, he heard appeals from the families.

He told the families that it would be possible to disburse instant compensation only if they withdraw the authority they have given to Swedish lawyer, Stephen Ericsson, to hold dialogues in an effort to secure more compensation for them.  Sources said that a number of affected families were ready to accept for this suggestion.  Nanavati reportedly told them that he would try to disburse compensation at the earliest, if they provide proof of having written to Stephen, duly withdrawing the authority given to him, as waiting for his response may take more time.

In the past, the families were required to give an undertaking that the compensation was being accepted in full and final settlement, duly revoking their right to approach courts for additional compensation. Because of the long-dawn battle undertaken by families, this provision has been relaxed. Mohammed Beary, president of Mangalore Air Crash Victims Families Association, said that Air India has now provided an opportunity to the families to approach the courts for revision of compensation, even after accepting the compensation disbursed by it.

He said that a number of families have been urging for immediate disbursal of compensation, as many of them are faced with the need to look after old parents, meet marriage expenses, or clear bank loans. “They have expressed the view that they will receive whatever compensation Air India decides for them now, and then wait for the court verdict by approaching courts if the compensation is substantially less than expected,” he clarified.

Beary said that the association has already approached Supreme Court, and that the court verdict will be binding in case of all the families affected by the said crash. “If the court decides that full compensation should be paid to the families, we will be urging for make this verdict applicable to all cases where compensation were disbursed, and undertakings against approaching courts were obtained,” he added.