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Mangalore (Karnataka), Aug.14 (ANI): The president of the 2010 Mangalore Plane Crash Victims Association (MPCVA), Mohammed Beary, has slammed national carrier Air India for its callous attitude in compensating the affected families.

He said that Air India’s response to a Kerala court’s nod for compensation was extremely disappointing.

"The present Aviation Minister, Mr. Vayalar Ravi, has given a statement in all newspapers that this compensation we will pay to all the people irrespective of the facts that there is a chance for going for appeal to the Supreme Court, but Air India did not succeed to this answer. It is a sorry state of affairs that both the aviation ministers at the time of accident and even now has been pleading to pay the compensation but Air India has totally refused," said Beary.

He said the majority of the victims were yet to receive compensation from Air India.

Beary said that the court had upheld the association’s demand for compensation for all families of the victims.

"Finally we have gone to the Kerala High Court demanding 75 lakhs as compensation in the Montreal Convention Act, Montreal Convention and we sought the explanation for the Montreal Convention of various clauses and sub clauses. Fortunately, the Kerala High Court has upheld our contention and directed Air India to pay 75 lakhs as compensation," he added.

Meanwhile, the National Aviation Company of India Limited, which operates the Air India flights, has appealed against the verdict.

Reports suggest that the company holding Air India and Air India Express, and its subsidiaries’ fleets of 134 aircraft are insured by a consortium led by Reliance General Insurance (RGI) Company, Iffco-Tokio General Insurance and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.

The insurers have reportedly paid Rs 550 million, and an RGI source said that it is now up to Air India to decide whether or not it should go ahead with the appeal.

However, relatives have complained about inequalities in the process.

The air crash involving the Mangalore-bound Air India Express flight from Dubai took place on May 22 last year killing 158 persons on board while landing at the Mangalore Airport. (ANI)