U.S. Airways sends $5,000 to passengers in crash-landing

[MrsCat 6]

(CNN) -- U.S. Airways has sent a check for $5,000 to each passenger who was on the plane that crashed in the Hudson River last week, saying it will be months before they receive any of their possessions that were on the plane and are recoverable.

"The National Transportation Safety Board has now begun their investigation of this accident, and we are offering our full participation and cooperation," airline executive Kerry Hester wrote in a letter accompanying each check.

"Investigatory protocol requires that the aircraft and all of its contents must be examined and weighed prior to releasing any items onboard in order to verify the weight and balance on the aircraft. ... The process is to weigh all items in their current state, dry them for eight weeks and then weigh them again," Hester wrote.

"This means we cannot return your items to you until the NTSB recovers and releases them, a process that will likely take several months. It is also possible that some items may be unrecoverable."

The airline also included checks to reimburse the 150 passengers for the costs of their tickets. "This is an obvious reimbursement that we wanted to make quickly to each of you," the letter says.

Thursday's flight from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina, lost power in both engines shortly after takeoff, forcing an emergency landing on the Hudson River. All 155 people onboard survived.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/01/20/usair...gers/index.html

[spookyturtle 9,466]

That's a nice gesture.

[almaty 19]

i am sure they will be paying more later via the lawsuits

[MrsCat 6]

That's a nice gesture.

I thought so too.

i am sure they will be paying more later via the lawsuits

Yeah, that was my thought. Not enough details to know who'll be listed as responsible yet though (airline, pilot, air traffic controller, airport authority, maintenance. . . . . .)

[spookyturtle 9,466]

That's a nice gesture.

I thought so too.

And just a few days after the crash. It will surely help people replace their lost possesions quickly.

[payxibka 10,048]

i am sure they will be paying more later via the lawsuits

it will be interesting to see if someone develops a winnable theory based on an act of God (which is what a birdstrike is classified as)... No doubt someone will try....

[GiGii 4]

That's a nice gesture.

I thought so too.

i am sure they will be paying more later via the lawsuits

Yeah, that was my thought. Not enough details to know who'll be listed as responsible yet though (airline, pilot, air traffic controller, airport authority, maintenance. . . . . .)

How can anyone be responsible for birds flying into the engines? Its not pilot error, its actually thanks to the pilot that those people survived. Its not airport authority, what do they have with birds flying in the sky?

I think they gave the cash, to show a kind step and to hope most wont sue.

Hey, if you loose a suitcase, what do you get back, like $150? So the $5k is quite a bit more.

[MrsCat 6]

That's a nice gesture.

I thought so too.

i am sure they will be paying more later via the lawsuits

Yeah, that was my thought. Not enough details to know who'll be listed as responsible yet though (airline, pilot, air traffic controller, airport authority, maintenance. . . . . .)

How can anyone be responsible for birds flying into the engines? Its not pilot error, its actually thanks to the pilot that those people survived. Its not airport authority, what do they have with birds flying in the sky?

I think they gave the cash, to show a kind step and to hope most wont sue.

Hey, if you loose a suitcase, what do you get back, like $150? So the $5k is quite a bit more.

People can easily be responsible for birds flying into engines. They have people who's full time job at the airport is to ensure the runways are clear of birds.

Again, I don't know any details, but in an instance where the pilot was aware of the birds but decided to take off anyways and the tower gave them clearance to take off, that could be both their responsibilities. The tower should have known better and the pilot could have decided not to take off because it was too risky. I can think of plenty of circumstances where a bird in the engine is not just an act of god.

There were people with injuries on that plane. I think one lady had two broken legs. I am sure a few had to go to the hospital and have bills as a result. $5000 will help in that instance.

Again, I don't think the right thing to do is sue automatically, but once all the facts are out, and if someone feels like someone should have acted more responsibly, I don't begrudge them for suing.

As it is, US Airways is acting in a very respectable manner. They're not stonewalling and actually trying to help their customers.

[payxibka 10,048]

People can easily be responsible for birds flying into engines. They have people who's full time job at the airport is to ensure the runways are clear of birds.

but early reports indicate the strike occured more than a mile away from the airport and at more than 3,000 feet.....

Edited January 20, 2009 by payxibka

[Ban Hammer 14,298]

if the birds were canadian geese, the passengers should sue canada!

[MrsCat 6]

if the birds were canadian geese, the passengers should sue canada!

We don't have any money left. We gave it all to the auto sector. The geese were leaving for greener pastures down south. Its all relative I guess.

[Waldo 0]

Hey Peeps. I´m in Peru with my wife. It made big news down here as well. I caught wind of it a few hours after it happened.

US Airways has a program for potential situations like this where they send out volonteers to help the families. It was activated IMMEDIATLY after. US Airways is very organized and will help those passengers. Since the merger in 05 US has become a better company in general, and even though they are ranking lower in costomer complaints and mishandelled bags they are higher in On Time Performance and safety.

[MrsCat 6]

Hey Peeps. I´m in Peru with my wife. It made big news down here as well. I caught wind of it a few hours after it happened.

US Airways has a program for potential situations like this where they send out volonteers to help the families. It was activated IMMEDIATLY after. US Airways is very organized and will help those passengers. Since the merger in 05 US has become a better company in general, and even though they are ranking lower in costomer complaints and mishandelled bags they are higher in On Time Performance and safety.

Put your $$$ where its important.

Hope you're enjoying Peru with your wife.

Edited January 20, 2009 by MrsCat

[spookyturtle 9,466]

if the birds were canadian geese, the passengers should sue canada!

Or maybe we should invade Canada and free the people from these murdering geese.

[Addie_Goodvibes 0]

i am sure they will be paying more later via the lawsuits

It is ashame that some will still file law suit, considering they are all lucky to be alive due to the pilots actions and quick thinking that saved all of the passengers & crew.

I hope any lawsuits that get filed are thrown out.

The airlines is obviously diligently doing their best to not only reimburse passngers for their tickets but alos issuing them 5000.00 checks that alone should cover majority of everyones losses, in addition I am sure the airlines will willingly cover any and all medical expenses without suits needing to be filed.