The husband of an Australian woman who was paralyzed when a Singapore Airlines flight hit turbulence has criticized a compensation offer he learned about on social media.
Singapore Airlines is offering passengers who suffered serious injuries $25,000 ($37,567) and $10,000 ($15,150) to those who suffered minor injuries when the flight hit severe turbulence on May 21.
The flight fell almost 2,000 m in just a few minutes while flying over Myanmar, leaving one man dead and 109 passengers and crew injured.
Adelaide dance teacher Kerry Jordan, who was traveling with her husband Keith Davis, broke her spine when she was violently thrown across the cabin.
He still hasn’t gained feeling from the waist down, still can’t move his hands or fingers, and may never walk again.
The airline said the compensation offer was issued to affected passengers on Monday.
But Davis said he only found out about the compensation offer two days later, when his friends sent him the link on Facebook, which he described as “a huge shock.”
The happy couple (pictured) were injured on flight SQ321, with Kerry Jordan (right) suffering a fractured spine after being thrown across the cabin after the flight entered severe turbulence.
Kerry Jordan (pictured with husband Keith Davis) may never walk again and may still not be able to move her fingers or hands.
The mother’s husband said the company’s compensation offer was “beyond insulting” and had added to the couple’s distress.
“It was a huge heartbreak for Kerry, who is facing enormous challenges,” Davis told Seven News.
“I hope they provide adequate compensation for Kerry’s life,” .
“It’s a totally life-changing condition you’ll face.”
“We are only hoping to make small progress, his mobility is restricted to his arms, neck and shoulders.”
Davis added that Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong visited his wife in the hospital and offered to visit her again before Jordan refused.
He called the airline’s efforts to apologize to customers “an absolute joke.”
He also gave an update on his wife, who was in “stable” condition.
‘That said, I couldn’t have said the same thing two days ago. So it’s a very everyday situation,” she stated.
The Singapore Airlines flight, which departed from London’s Heathrow Airport and was scheduled to fly to Singapore, had 229 people on board, including 18 crew members. One person was killed and 109 injured in the incident.
Kerry Jordan still hasn’t gained feeling from the waist down, still can’t move her hands or fingers, and may never walk again.
The couple’s lawyer, former senator Nick Xenophon, is part of a legal team fighting for better treatment for injured passengers.
He believes the airline should offer seriously injured passengers at least $175,000.
“The Montreal Convention, which regulates these incidents in the air, is very clear about what the limits are and what the damages should be,” said Mr. Xenophon.
Singapore Airlines said in its statement The $25,000 payment is to cover “immediate needs” and has invited seriously injured passengers to “discuss an offer of compensation to meet each of their specific circumstances” when they are well enough to do so.
‘(The $25,000) will be part of the final compensation that these passengers will receive,’ he stated.
Keith Davis (pictured) learned of the airline’s compensation offer on Wednesday when his friends sent him the post on Facebook.
The company said all of the passengers’ medical costs were covered, they were paid $1,000 to cover their immediate expenses, and all passengers were reimbursed for their flight costs, even if they were not injured.
“All affected passengers should have received their compensation offers by email, along with information on how they can proceed with their claims,” the airline said.
Singapore Airlines also stated that it “remains committed to supporting the affected passengers who were on board SQ321.”