EK521 passengers may get $7,000 compensation: Reports

An Indian national, whose wife and two children were on board the Emirates flight EK 521 which was travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai, said he received the news from Emirates via email.

“The mail came through on Tuesday evening, but I only saw it on Wednesday morning,” the man, who was not identified was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times.

Flight EK521 had 282 passengers and 18 crew members on board. There were 226 Indians aboard the Boeing 777-300. He lauded the airline for dealing with the issue “so quickly”, but made a point of highlighting his family’s lucky escape. “It isn’t possible to compensate for loss of life, and we are lucky this compensation is only for the small monetary loss we endured through losing our luggage.” 

Over 300 people had a miraculous escape on August 3 when the aircraft was involved in a landing incident in Dubai. The accident was the most serious to date for Emirates, it being the only loss for the airline since it started operations in 1985.

Since the accident, the Indian national said an Emirates representative has made it a point of calling him “everyday” to check on the welfare of his family.

“In the email, Emirates highlighted the fact that it wanted to solve the issue regarding compensation immediately, to avoid causing passengers anymore upset.” 

Though the specific date for compensation payout was not outlined in the email, he said he has filled out “all the formalities” necessary and has sent the claim forms back to the airline. Tragically, one life was lost during the incident. It was that of firefighter, Jassim Eissa Al Balushi, who was part of the airport Civil Defence team. To honour the martyr, the Dubai Civil Defence has now named a hall at its training academy after him, the report said.

Meanwhile, an investigation led by the General Civil Aviation Authority, supported by aircraft manufacturer Boeing and engine maker Rolls Royce, is under way and is expected to take up to a year to conclude, another local newspaper reported.