Flight Passengers Insurance: Passengers who are victims of plane crashes also get insurance worth crores of rupees. If the plane is going to an international destination, the compensation amount can increase further.
Like railways, those travelling in planes are also required to take insurance. This rule is even stricter for foreign passengers or international flights. The Air India flight was going to London, which was an international flight. Yet most of the passengers were Indians. In such a situation, the question arises as to how much insurance can be provided to passengers who lose their lives in a plane crash. What are the rules for travel insurance for
international flights?
Compensation to passengers in international air accidents is mainly determined under the Montreal Convention 1999. Which has been accepted by more than 130 countries including India. This convention was created to determine compensation and redress in case of accident, death, injury or loss of baggage in international flights. Airlines like Air India that follow this convention pay compensation as per their rules.
What will be the amount of insurance?
Under the Montreal Convention, it is the airline’s responsibility to ensure that each passenger is insured for about 1.5 lakh US dollars or 12.5 crore rupees (based on October 2023 rates). This amount is paid to passengers who lose their lives in an accident or are physically disabled. If the airline’s negligence is not proven for the accident. If negligence is proven, the compensation can be unlimited, which can vary depending on the age, income and status of the victim.
…then compensation may increase
If the passenger’s life is lost due to any fault of the airline, the insurance and compensation amount can increase further. For example, if a passenger dies and he was the sole breadwinner of his family, a higher compensation (up to several crores of rupees) can be claimed in court.
What will passengers who survive the accident receive?
If a passenger survives a plane crash but his luggage is damaged, he can get compensation of about Rs 1.4 lakh per passenger. This includes check-in and cabin baggage. If the passenger has any particularly valuable items, the passenger will have to declare them in advance, otherwise the compensation is limited. If he has informed the airline about it, then he can claim compensation in case of damage.
How does Air India provide insurance coverage?
Air India offers travel insurance for international passengers with Tata AIG, which may include accident compensation. As per the insurance policy, the cover in case of death ranges from Rs 41 lakh to Rs 8.3 crore. Its premium starts from Rs 40.82 per day, which may increase depending on the coverage and duration of travel.
How will the family receive compensation?
For compensation, the passenger or his/her dependents will have to file a claim with the airline (such as Air India) or the insurance provider (Tata AIG). For this, the necessary documents like boarding pass, passport, medical certificate, death certificate and a copy of the FIR of the accident will have to be attached. It is important to remember that this claim must be made within 2 years of the accident. If the airline or the insurance company pays less compensation, the passenger can appeal to the competent court (such as a consumer court or a civil court in India) under the Montreal Convention.
