Mangalore crash: More damages for rich?

Mangalore: The families of victims of May 22 Air India crash at Mangalore airport have alleged discrimination, saying that higher salaried individuals who lost their lives on that ill-fated flight got more money as compensation than lower-salaried ones.
According to the Montreal Convention, the compensation to victims of air crash may reach a maximum of $160,000 (Rs 76 lakh), but the legal adviser to Mangalore crash victims has alleged that this rule was violated when at least two families got Rs 90 lakh as compensation based on the income of the victims that ranged between Rs 80,000 and Rs 1.2 lakh per month.
Other passengers alleged that Air India has also discriminated between men who were killed and women and children.
Harpreet Singh, general manager (quality management system), Air India, said its legal team could best respond to the allegation as the airline has been following the Montreal Convention guidelines. "I'm surprised at the variation. The legal team is working as per the rules as insurance is involved," she added.
Meanwhile, insurance officials said that there are two types of accident policies for airline passengers. The first is a personal accident cover and the second is a liability accident policy. Under the airline liability insurance policy, the passenger is entitled to the full compensation as per the Montreal Convention. The personal accident policy covers the total sum insured as mentioned in the policy and this has no relation to the salary of the person. The question of salary income arises only during the time of taking the policy, the officials said.
27/08/10 Times of India

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Categories: Air India Budget Aug 2010, airports aug 2010, NACIL Aug 2010, Safety Aug 2010