Where is our money: kin of AI crash victims

Almost 18 months after Air India Express flight 812 crashed near Mangalore, India, in 2010, relatives of victims continue to attend meetings and negotiations with senior Indian officials over compensation.

Indian Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi who was in Sharjah for the emirate’s International Book Fair on Wednesday, summoned relatives living here in the UAE for a meeting with the airline, the insurance agency and his ministry.

The end result of that meeting: the minister has once again promised to help victims and has called representatives of relatives living in UAE for a crucial meeting in Delhi today (Friday). 

“We will continue to attend whatever meetings they call us to until they give us what is due. It has been more than a year and a half since the accident and we have seen enough games played by both the Indian Airlines and the insurance agency,” said Abdul Rahman, who lost all his family members in the accident.

The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, flying from Dubai overshot the runway as it tried to land at Mangalore International Airport, killing 158 people on board.

Eight passengers survived the accident, which an enquiry later blamed on “pilot error”.

The relatives are demanding compensation of around Dh500,000 as stipulated by the Montreal Convention.

“The airlines however has negotiated with many relatives and paid them somewhere between Dh200,000 and Dh300,000. They are treating us like cattle. Tomorrow we are once again being asked to appear with begging bowls in front of the officials from the airline,” said another victim’s relative who did not want to reveal his name.

According to sources at least 50 per cent of the relatives of passengers killed in the accident have negotiated with the airline and settled for a lesser amount.

“Our estimate puts it the number at 62. But the others are fighting for what is due,” added Rahman. He along with Santosh Rai and Umesh are travelling to Delhi for the crucial meeting.

The meeting holds significance as the Kerala High Court recently overturned a lower court’s order asking to airline to pay compensation as per the Montreal Convention. The High Court’s order can however be appealed in the Supreme Court in India.

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