Return of Germanwings Crash Victims’ Remains Delayed
The relatives of Germanwings flight 9525 crash victims have expressed “rage and despair”, after Lufthansa delayed return of the victims’ remains to Germany.
The plane, which crashed in France on March 24, was carrying 150 people, around half whom were German.
The airline had originally planned to bring the victim’s remains to Germany on June 9 and 10. However, on June 3, it sent an email to the families, informing them that the plan had been “temporarily interrupted” for an indefinite period.
Elmar Giemulla, an attorney representing several victims’ relatives, said “anger and despair are growing” among the families.
According to Germanwings spokesman Joachim Schoettes, errors in death certificates of victims forced the delay. “We’re working intensively on finding a solution as quickly as possible in the interests of the relatives,” he said.
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What: Bell UH-1H Where: Melgar, Tolima – Colombia When: March 07, 2011 5:40 Who: 5 fatalities, 4 injuries Why: Six helicopters were engaged in a training mission when the rotors of two of the UH-1Hs collided. One of the helicopters fell, and caught on fire.
Technician Felipe Pava Rodriguez, technician John Mario Diaz Llanos, Lt. Manuel Alberto Cuspoca, Mexican Lt. Dante Herrera Alarcon, and Capt. Juan Jose Orjuela were killed in the crash. Lt. Hugo Estrada Lopez is one of 4 survivors, all from the 2nd helicopter which managed to make a controlled, if hard, landing.
The cause of the crash has tentatively been attributed to human error.
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May 22 was the anniversary of Air India Express Flight 812 from Dubai, which overshot the runway and crashed at Mangalore, India. The crash victims’ support group spokesman said that “About 50 families have received compensation from the insurance companies, but many families have not even been contacted. ” According to the organizer, Rafik Eroth, “…insurance representatives are playing foul over the payouts…Many families have lost their breadwinners and face major financial difficulties. I believe [the insurance companies] are delaying the process to pass the two-year mark so that the families lose their claims.” Families of crash victims had a two-year period in which to apply for compensation
The Civil Aviation Ministry ordered the airline to provide up to $159,840 to families of the victims in accordance with the Indian Carriage by Air Act, (following the Montreal Convention.)
It has been a year, and still some of the families have not yet been contacted about compensation.
The Indian Court of Inquiry probe report was submitted to the civil aviation ministry yesterday. The report says that “Air India pilot Zlatko Glusica, from Serbia, was asleep for much of the three-hour flight and was “disoriented” when the plane started to descend.” The experienced First Officer had fewer hours but was soon due for command, and had landed frequently at that airport. He called for a go-around which the Captain ignored.
Captain Z Glusica had more than 10,200 hours of flying experience—but not landing at that airport. He was the pilot in command and reacted late, and was suffering from “sleep inertia”. His heavy nasal snoring and breathing was captured on the CVR. Many standard operating procedures were not followed during landing. Co-pilot H S Ahluwalia repeated “abort landing” saying they didn’t have enough runway left, three times asking for a “go around”.
With less than 3,000 feet of runway left, the pilots tried to take off again and crashed in the gorge at the runway’s end.
The plane’s takeoff gear was found activated. Experts concluded if the pilots had not attempted to take off again, the plane emergency brakes could have brought the plane to a halt.
This is not the first time Air India has had exhausted pilots. What had their schedule been that week?
June 2008: Mumbai air traffic controllers woke two sleeping pilots with an alarm when they were 200 miles past their destination.
What: Air India Express Boeing 737-800 en route from Dubai to Mangalore Where: Mangalore airport When: 6:00 a.m May 22 2010 Who: Passengers including 23 children, 6 crew= 158 fatalities and 8 survivors Why: Air India Express flight 812 attempted touch down was around the middle marker. (Conflicting) reports are that it overshot the runway, and that the pilot intended a go round (tapes reveal the co pilot was urging a go-round) but the plane hit the localizer antenna at the runway’s end, plowed through the perimeter losing part of a wing, and went down 75 feet into a ravine, and broke into pieces and burst into flames. On touchdown, there was a reported “bang” which may have been a tire bursting. A drizzle started after the accident. From 5 to 10 people have been hospitalized, but according to reports there are possibly 3 survivors.
Survivor Abdul Puttur suffered burns. He was seated near the wing exit and said that the pilot had announced the landing, then there was a thud. He saw huge flames after the plane fell into the ravine and then he jumped out from the back entrance. Another passenger said the pilot made no announcement.
The Serbian pilot was Zlatko Glusica, first officer was S.S. Ahluwalia.
According to DGCA rules, Mangalore International Airport is deemed a “critical airfield” which means that “supervised take offs and landings” are prohibited. Only the captain (not the first officer) can pilot take-offs and landings. Mangalore International Airport has a controversial table top runway and which forces pilots to make a precision landing. The airport has no buffer zone, and pilots landing planes must fly precisely or risk hurtling off the edge.
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What: Wells Fargo Dassault Falcon 20D en route from Santa Domingo to Miami Where: 11 miles East of Grand Inagua Bahamas When: Dec 18 2009 Who: 2 pilots Why: The plane crashed into the sea 11 miles east of the Bahamas. No details are know.
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On May 22nd, I took a few moments to remember Air India Express Flight 812.
I remembered when I went to Mangelore, where I’d walked the path the Boeing had taken when it overshot its landing. I tried not to revisit the tragedy of it all. I tried not to remember that if that cockpit had not been the site of the crew resource management issues, I might have had no disaster to remember. Hindsight vision is always sadly perfect.
There were eight survivors of that flight, and a hundred and fifty-eight fatalities. The plane ploughed through all barriers, arrestor beds and an antennae, and catapulted over the edge of the runway down a hill. Afterwards a support group was formed for the families, but all the emotional support in the world can never replace missing loved ones. I can only hope they visited you in your dreams.
All I want to say to the lost family members and the survivors is to treasure your memories. The cords of memories weave together the threads that make our lives, stretching from every point living and dead, and every heart we touch. As long as we remember the ones we love, that is how long they will stay with us.
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What: Condor Cessna TU206G Turbo Stationair Where: El Astillero, Cerro San Antonio de Prado, Colombia When: October 20, 2010, 9:40 am Who: 4 aboard, 4 fatalities Why: The plane carrying provisions to Urabá and 3 passengers flew into San Antonio Mountain, killing all aboard. A would-be passenger’s life was saved because he could not board the flight—because it was full.
The pilot did not report an emergency to the tower.
The pilot was Juan Guillermo Mondragon. Passengers included John Amado Pérez, Osías Sierra and Xenobia Palacios.
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The relatives of Germanwings flight 9525 crash victims have expressed “rage and despair”, after Lufthansa delayed return of the victims’ remains to Germany.
Lufthansa Cityline flight LH-2382 made an emergency landing in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 13th.
