'$5,000 is not enough!'

Updated on: 28 January,2009 09:25 AM IST |
Agencies |

Passengers of the aircraft that crash landed in NY's Hudon River say compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh is a pittance

Passengers of the aircraft that crash landed in NY's Hudon River say compensation of Rs 2.5 lakhu00a0 is a pittance

Many passengers on the US Airways flight that was forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River almost two weeks ago say the airline's $5,000 (Rs 2.5 lakh) offer is not enough compensation for the ordeal.

The Charlotte-bound Airbus A320 jet crashed into the freezing Manhattan river after birds struck the plane's engines and caused both to fail. After the crash, US Airways sent passengers a letter of apology, a $5,000 check to assist "with immediate needs" and reimbursement for the ticket.

But some are not pleased with the settlement. Joe Hart, who suffered a bloody nose and bruises, says he would "like to be made whole for the incident" and thinks it is too soon after the accident to determine what emotional distress he's suffered.

The National Air Disaster Alliance & Foundation, a safety advocacy group agrees with Hart, saying $5,000 is not enough.

"We're grateful everyone survived, and the captain on the plane was so marvelous," says Gail Dunham, the group's executive director. "But passengers lost luggage, briefcases, cellphones, BlackBerrys and business documents, and went through a terrific ordeal."

However, US Airways Vice President Jim Olson says that an insurance claims is working with the airline to contact passengers and that they'll be reimbursed for expenses or losses above $5,000.

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