Dubai court awards Dh800,000 to siblings who lost parents in flydubai crash

Top Stories

Dubai court awards Dh800,000 to siblings who lost parents in flydubai crash

Dubai - This is the first ever ruling by a Dubai court regarding the compensation for families of victims of the crash.

by

Marie Nammour

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Tue 14 Aug 2018, 6:46 PM

A Dubai court has ordered flydubai to pay Dh800,000 in damages to the children of a Russian couple, who died in a crash involving one of its planes in the Russian city of Rostov-On-Don in 2016.
The ruling is the first to be issued by a Dubai civil court regarding compensation to the families of the crash that claimed 62 lives. The airline has also been ordered to pay a legal interest of nine per cent per year (a cumulative interest for the delay in granting the due compensation when the verdict is final). The present lawsuit was filed one year and four months ago.
FZ981 had crashed on March 19, 2016, as pilots attempted to land it amid adverse weather conditions at the Rostov-on-Don airport and all 55 passengers and seven cabin crew members on board died. A final technical report on the incident is yet to be issued by the authorities concerned in Russia.
Mohammed Al Hashimi of Al Hashimi Advocates and Legal Consultants firm is representing the Russian siblings in the civil lawsuit they filed before the Dubai Courts, seeking damages for the loss of their parents. The sole heirs of the deceased had claimed Dh74 million in damages.
"Upon appeal, we will definitely be pushing for a higher amount of financial compensation," the lawyer said. "The siblings suffered a tremendous moral loss which no amount of money can make up for."
"We are awaiting the text of the ruling to see the court's reasons for its order. After reviewing it, we will then file an appeal," Al Hashimi said.
In a statement sent to Khaleej Times, flydubai thanked the Dubai Courts for the judgment "which it currently is considering". "flydubai remains committed to settling claims for compensation in accordance with applicable laws," the airline said. "flydubai would like to express our condolences to the family and recognise this is a poignant time for them. Our long-term care team continues to remain available for as long as required."
Al Hashimi has five other similar lawsuits in which families of the crash victims are claiming compensations. Those cases have been presented to the Legal Affairs Department in Dubai in an attempt to work out an amicable settlement with the airline. If unsuccessful, they will be referred to court as well.
Monday's ruling remains subject to appeal by both parties within the legal deadline.
mary@khaleejtimes.com


More news from