1. A 73-year-old British man died during a flight from London to Singapore due to severe turbulence, with over 100 passengers being treated for injuries, including paralysis and brain trauma.
2. Injured passengers can seek compensation through the Montreal Convention, an international treaty governing airline liability, with a limit of up to $170,000 for injury claims.
3. Passengers have received compensation for injuries in similar cases, with one woman receiving $33,000 from Ryanair and another passenger suing Delta for $1 million for a broken rib due to a collapsed armrest.
A 73-year-old British man died during a flight from London to Singapore after the Boeing 777 aircraft experienced severe turbulence, resulting in injuries to more than 100 passengers. Some passengers suffered serious traumatic injuries such as paralysis, skull and back trauma, and brain injuries. Damages for the incident will not be awarded until an investigation is completed, which could take years. In the meantime, passengers on board have the option to seek payouts through the Montreal Convention, an international agreement that governs airline liability in cases of passenger death and injury. Under the treaty, passengers who suffer injuries caused by an airline can recover up to $170,000.
The Montreal Convention has been utilized by airline passengers in the past to seek compensation for injuries sustained during flights. For example, one woman received $33,000 from Ryanair after breaking her leg, while another passenger sued Delta for a broken rib, seeking $1 million. Despite the treaty’s $170,000 limit, aviation lawyer Peter Neenan suggested that compensation amounts for similar injuries could be much higher. After the flight incident, Singapore Airlines announced changes to their policy, no longer serving meals when the seatbelt light is on.
In response to the incident, an airline staff member reportedly offered passengers monetary compensation, with one passenger receiving 1,000 Singapore dollars as a gesture of apology. The compensation process for affected passengers will depend on the outcome of the investigation into the flight. Requests for comments from Singapore Airlines and Delta regarding the incident were not immediately responded to.