MONTREAL – Following the fatal collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport last Sunday, aviation legal experts are signaling that Air Canada and US aviation authorities could face massive compensation claims. The accident, which involved an Air Canada Express flight striking a fire truck on the runway, resulted in the deaths of both pilots and left more than 40 passengers injured.
According to Gabor Lukacs, a prominent air passenger rights advocate, Air Canada is legally obligated under international law to provide significant financial restitution to every passenger on board. Lukacs noted that under the 1999 Montreal Convention, an international treaty governing airline liability, passengers are entitled to claim damages for physical injuries and death. He estimated that each injured passenger could be eligible for up to $300,000 in compensation, and noted that victims have a two-year window to initiate legal proceedings.
The scope of liability may extend beyond the airline. Kevin Durkin, a specialized US aviation attorney, suggested that legal action could also be directed at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the local Port Authority. The investigation is expected to scrutinize potential lapses in airport safety protocols and ground traffic control, specifically how a fire truck ended up in the path of an arriving aircraft.
Legal analysts emphasize that these claims will likely cover not only immediate medical expenses but also long-term psychological trauma and loss of income. As the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues its technical probe into the cause of the crash, legal teams are already preparing to represent the victims in what is expected to be a complex, multi-jurisdictional legal battle.
