Airline CEO Calls Passengers, Expresses Confidence In Type
Despite efforts by
British Airways to console and placate the passengers onboard one
of its Boeing 777s that crashed on approach to Heathrow last month,
the airline still faces a possible flurry of lawsuits.
According to The Daily Mail, some passengers have already called
lawyers, claiming hearing problems and other trauma caused by the
hard landing. Others are angry they were allegedly held beside the
fallen plane for up to 20 minutes, despite leaking fuel and fears
it could explode.
The airline has taken steps to address those concerns... and
heed off such lawsuits. CEO Willie Walsh has placed calls to the
passengers, offering counseling and, in some cases, a free
45-minute flight over London to help them overcome fears of flying
again. Other airline personnel have been in regular contact with
the passengers, as well.
"We are in touch with each passenger individually and we are
discussing their needs on a one-to-one basis," said one BA
spokesperson
Those efforts fall short of what some passengers expect,
according to Sally Moore, a personal injury lawyer at Leigh Day
& Co. "These passengers have suffered a near-death experience
and could be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder," she
said, adding several passengers have called the firm to inquire
about lawsuits.
"I fear I will never fly again," said passenger Lukasz
Pilarczyk, 26. I can't imagine a time when I can get back in a
plane. After we evacuated, we were around 50 meters from the plane
for about thought that if the plane would all die." Conversely, Dr.
Jeroen Ensink, 33, says he supports BA's handling of the incident
-- saying he's been bombarded by calls from airline personnel,
including a personal call from Walsh.
In a recent interview, Walsh told The Wall Street Journal "I'll
refrain from speculation" on the cause of the accident, but added
he "would have no hesitation flying on a 777."
British tort law limits damages for mental trauma to
£85,000 per person -- about $169,000 at current exchange
rates. That sum could escalate, however, if British Airways is
found to be at fault in the crash.
As ANN reported Monday,
investigators are focusing their efforts on the possibility of fuel
contamination, which resulted in the formation of ice particles on
the plane's high-altitude flight from Beijing. Those particles may
have blocked adequate fuel flow to the engines.