Passenger paralyzed after suffering turbulence on flight slams airline's compensation offer
Mia Williams
Featured Image Credit: Family handout
A passenger who is paralyzed from the waist down has slammed the compensation offer from Singapore Airlines.
Kerry Jordan, from Adelaide, Australia was one of many on board the Singapore Airlines flight which took off from London on May 21.
The plane hit turbulence so bad after it had an altitude drop of 54 metres (178 ft) in just four seconds, with one man passing away after suffering a heart attack
Advert
People were described as being ‘launched into the ceiling’ which lead some people to 'hit their heads' on the baggage cabins.
And Kerry is among those who suffers life-changing injuries.
She currently has no feeling from her waist down and has been told that she may ‘never walk again’, after her spine was broken from being flung around the cabin.
The airline has now offered all passengers who've suffered major injuries $25,000 compensation, while those with minor injures are being offered $10,000. But Keith Davis, Kerry’s husband, has described the offer as ‘beyond insulting’.
He also claimed that he'd only found out about the compensation offer when it was sent to him by friends.
Speaking to 7News, he said: “I expect they would provide adequate compensation for the whole of Kerry’s life. It is a totally life-changing condition that’s going to face her.
"We’re just hopeful for small gains, her mobility is restricted to her arms and her neck and shoulders.”
Singapore Airlines has said that it invited seriously injured passengers to discuss a compensation offer that meets their specific needs.
It also added that all passengers’ medical costs were covered, as well as being paid $1,000 to meet their immediate expenses and their flight costs refunded.
In a post on Facebook, the company 'deeply apologized' to the passengers for their 'traumatic experience' and added that they were 'committed to providing our full support and assistance during this time'.
They said: “SIA can confirm that we have sent out the offers of compensation to the passengers on 10 June 2024.
"For passengers who sustained minor injuries from the incident, we have offered US$10,000 in compensation.
"Passengers medically assessed as having sustained serious injuries, requiring long-term medical care, and requesting financial assistance are offered an advance payment of US$25,000 to address their immediate needs.
"All affected passengers should have received their offers of compensation via email, along with information on how they may proceed with their claims."
Davis claimed that the Singapore Airlines chief executive visited his wife in hospital and offered a second visit, but Kerry declined this.
Keith also said the apology to passengers was ‘an absolute joke’.
Former senator, Nick Xenophon, makes up part of the legal team which is fighting for a better deal for injured passengers and said the company should be offering seriously injured passengers at least $175,000.
He said: “The Montreal Convention, which governs these incidents in the air, is very clear about what the caps are and what the damages ought to be.”
UNILAD has contacted Singapore Airlines for further comment.