Black Sea air crash compensation to be set after investigation

RIA Novosti, Russia
May 03, 2006

YEREVAN/SOCHI, May 3 (RIA Novosti) – A decision on compensation
following the deaths of all passengers of an Armenian Armavia
Airlines plane that crashed over the Black Sea will be reached after
an investigation, the airline said Wednesday.

All the 113 passengers and crew are presumed dead after an Airbus plane
flying from the Armenian capital, Yerevan, to an airport servicing
the popular Russian resort of Sochi disappeared from radar screens
at 2:15 a.m. local time (Tuesday 10:15 p.m. GMT).

Independent experts appointed by insurers are assessing the level
and procedures for compensation payouts, Armavia Airlines said.

“All passengers of the crashed A-320 airliner were insured in
accordance with international regulations and standards. Risks were
reinsured on the international market,” an airline source said, adding
that the airline would announce the final details as soon as possible.

Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin is currently meeting with
Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan at Adler Airport, which
services Sochi. A crisis center has been set up there.

Eighty-six relatives of the victims have arrived at Adler, and a
further 120 are expected soon.

The airline said, “On arrival, everyone is being put in hotels in
the city, and is being brought food. Where necessary, they are being
provided with medical and psychological help.” The Russian Emergency
Situations Ministry said bad weather was most likely to blame for
the loss of the A-320.

Medical aid is also being provided to families of victims staying at
Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport while the bodies of their relatives are
being recovered from the sea, airport doctor Lyudmila Avakyan said.

May 5 and 6 have been declared mourning days in Armenia, and May 5
in Russia.