US lawyer slams delay in ‘bureaucratic process’ in Air India crash aid
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New Delhi: The lead US attorney, Mike Andrews, has critcised Air India for the delay in handing compensation to the families affected by the fatal crash of Air India plane in Ahmadabad, News agency ANI reported.
Mike Andrews, who is representing over 65 families of victims in the tragic AI171 plane crash, called out what he said ‘bureaucratic process’ was behind delay.
Apparently expressing disappointment at the situation, he remembered Tata Group’s former Chairman Ratan Tata’s humane approach saying that the delay would not have caused if he were alive.
Pointing to the group’s legacy of compassion, Andrews said that even people in the US know about Ratan Tata’s ethics, suggesting it would have helped grieving families.
‘Even in the US, we know who Ratan Tata was. We know a little bit in the US about his work ethic and his focus on being humble and taking care of his employees and so we know that if he were here today, we don't believe employees and victims and people who were on the aeroplane and on the ground would be subjected to a bureaucratic process in which they're delayed payment,’ he was quoted as saying.
Citing the distressing case of a bedridden elderly mother whose only son died in the crash, he said she depended on her son for medical needs being the only financial support for her, adding that now she is left to ‘mercy of the world’.
‘We met with one family, the elderly mother is bedridden, and she was depending upon her son to provide income to pay for her health care. He is now deceased. They have not received payment. What are they supposed to do? They are now left at the mercy of the world in determining how she is supposed to go on when the person who was helping provide for her was killed through no fault of his own, he reportedly added.
The news agency reported citing the US attorney that if the crash is linked to defect in the aircraft, a product liability claim can be filed in the US.
In the event of Air India is held responsible for the crash following the investigation, claims would likely fall under the Montreal Convention.
Air India released Rs 25 lakh an interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the bereaved families of 147 of the 229 passengers.