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Air France Crash Families Get Initial Payout: $24,000 Per Person

by stevesmys | June 19, 2009 at 09:05 am

436 views | 11 Recommendations | 5 comments

Air France will pay initial compensation to the families of the victims killed in the Atlantic air crash of Air France Flight 447 on June 1.

The company will pay a "first advance" €17, 500 euros, or $24,000 USD, to the families of all 228 victims when the French plane crashed en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

Air France chief Pierre-Henri Gourgeon said a first payment of 17,500 euros ($24,000, £14,800) would be made for each victim.

The French airline will pay out a "first advance" of around £15,000 per victim, but it stressed this should not be seen as an admission of liability by the firm.

Fifty bodies have been recovered from the water so far, while Brazilian and French ships continue the search.

Passengers from more than 30 countries were on board the Airbus A330 when it crashed. The cause of the crash is still unknown.

Here is the Air France Flight 447 Passenger List: 204 Names, 32 Nationalities

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Mike Jurasius (not verified)

at 12:48 on June 19th, 2009

I'm shocked at how poor the progress is on the investigation of this tragedy. There are reputable companies like www.exponent.com that are very capable of figuring out the cause of such an accident with very little evidence. I think the media needs to stay out of this investigation completely until all possibilities have been ruled out. I'm very curious as to why the pilots did not turn the plane around and head back to Rio if they had the instrumentation on board to detect this storm. This is common practice in the US! A plane will circle around or find a safer place to land rather than risk the lives of the passengers! I think that the blame should be entirely on AirFrance and that they should be accountable for far more than the amount they've proposed to give the families for their loss! since when is a human life worth 24,000????

Adwdio (not verified)

at 18:13 on June 20th, 2009

There is no amount that can match value of a life. I am seriously surprised that they offered up as much as they did. I think it shows that they are owning up to their mistakes. Yeah, it's a small price to pay, but I still think it's commendable that they are holding themselves accountable to the life that was lossed on that flight. Adwido Advertising Network

Linda McIntosh (not verified)

at 11:04 on June 21st, 2009

I am a distant cousin of Arnold Gergel. I would like to know more about his family since we have not been in touch since before my parents passed away. If at all possible, please send information.

marina saijai (not verified)

at 20:33 on June 30th, 2009

hi Linda,

to know his family but at the moment im not home so i cannot provide u for phone number.everybody are upset and im dieyng but still have hope about him...im his girlfriend...and i will never believe his not alive until i will see and reconized his body.his mom and brother are ok they are more stronger than me...i dont know how they do it..i wish to be like them a little bit instead to cry everyday and hardly sleep.as soon as i get home i will contact u cause i have to make a try in slovakia