Agagu: Associated Airline Begins Payment Of $30K To Families Of Crash Victims

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Thursday, May 8th, 2014

Kayode Adelowokan, Lagos

The Associated Airline and its insurers on Thursday commenced the payment of $30,000, the first tranche of claims, to 16 families including crew members that died in its Embraer 120 aircraft crashed seven months ago.

The payment of the $30,000 is in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisations ( ICAO) regulation, which requires any airline to pay the first batch of claims to families of victims of any crash 30 days after the accident.

The delay in payment by Associated Aviation was linked to issues bordering on documentation among others.

Representatives of the victims of the crash including crew members were at the headquarters of Associated Aviation in Lagos on Thursday to sign their financial documentation forms ahead of the release of drafts for payment.

Speaking at the event, which had in attendance, representatives of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the chief operating officer of Associated Aviation, Mr Taiwo Raji said the delay in the release of the first tranche was occasioned by the need for the airline to get its acts right.

He said the airline had completed documentation on the right persons mandated to collect claims on behalf of the victims of the accident, adding that the airline had to comply with prescribed regulations to ensuring that the payment was carried out after proper scrutiny of relevant documents.

The legal counsel to Associated Aviation, Mr Johnson Odionu, said the airline secured the approval of the insurers to pay the first tranche of claims to cushion effects of the loss of the victims to their families.

He coordinated the handing over of the letters of credit qualifying the representatives of the victims to collect the claims, which would be facilitated through a Nigerian commercial bank.

The Lawyer said, “Today, we are facilitating the payment of the first batch of claims to victims of the crash. We are giving out cheques of $30,000 to 16 families.

“The balance $70,000 will be paid 90 days after the insurers have concluded all investigation.

“The delay in this payment, which should have been carried before now was due to the prolonged investigations.”

The counsel said the airline and its insurers are still sorting out issues, which he said will be resolved very soon.

On October 3, 2013, An Embraer 120RT Brasilia turboprop was destroyed in a takeoff accident at Lagos-Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS), Nigeria.

The airplane impacted the ground near the airport fuel depot and broke up. A fire erupted. There were 20 people on board the plane. Seven occupants initially survived the accident. Three later died in hospital.

Associated Aviation flight SCD-361 was on a chartered flight from Lagos to Akure, Nigeria.

The airplane was carrying the body of a former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu for a state burial in Akure.

Prior to the departure the crew discussed some concerns about the aircraft.