A lawyer representing some of the victims who were injured when Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow encountered severe turbulence on May 20, resulting in one death and scores of serious injuries, has accused the airline of trying to settle compensation claims on the cheap.
Peter Carter of Australian law firm Carter Capner Law, where many of the passengers live, claims that Singapore Airlines is trying to “low ball” the passengers and that many are entitled to “substantial” payouts.
So far, Singapore Airlines has offered $25,000 in compensation to the most seriously injured passengers as an advance payment and has refunded the cost of the flight to everyone onboard.
The carrier has also paid for all of the private medical care of all the passengers injured during the flight.
For the dozens of passengers who sustained minor injuries, Singapore Airlines has offered compensation totalling $10,000 as an advance payment but the total compensation could end up being a lot higher.
A preliminary accident report published by the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau of Singapore revealed that the pilots of SQ321 turned on the fasten seatbelt signs just seconds before the plane suddenly dropped 178 feet, flinging anyone who wasn’t belted in towards the ceiling.
The turbulence that caused the most serious injuries lasted just five seconds, and tragically, 73-year-old passenger Geoff Kitchen died as a result of a suspected heart attack.
Peter Carter claims that Singapore Airlines should be held liable for the accident because the pilots should rerouted the aircraft away from an area of thunderstorms where the turbulence struck.
“Other planes took evasive action and changed direction, yet Flight SQ321 headed directly to the area,” Carter commented. “Passengers need to know this was not a freak accident and they are therefore entitled to substantial compensation, not just the expense payments the airline has so far offered.”
Carter added: “We are convinced the true facts will show there was crew responsibility for the accident and that the airline’s compensation liability to passengers is therefore unlimited. Many passengers will be entitled to seven-figure compensation.”
In the aftermath of the accident, Singapore Airlines said it would change its turbulence procedures in an attempt to make improve passenger and crew safety.
In the past, Singapore Airlines cabin crew would continue to serve meals and refreshments during mild and moderate turbulence but the carrier now mandates that flight attendants strap themselves into their jumpseats whenever the seatbelt sign is switched on.
Other airlines in the region have also taken note of the incident, and Korean Air announced last month that it will no longer serve cup noodles in Economy Class on long-haul flights over fears that turbulence could lead to burn injuries if scalding hot water slopped out of the cup noodles.
