Paralysed Singapore Airlines passenger slams compensation offer after turbulent flight

The husband of a paralysed Singapore Airlines passenger has slammed the company’s compensation offer and said he only found out about it through social media.

Singapore Airlines is offering $US10,000 ($15,150) to passengers who suffered minor injuries and $US25,000 for serious injuries during a flight last month that encountered severe turbulence.

The company said it sent out the offer to passengers on June 10 following the flight, during which one person died, and many others were injured when the plane suddenly plunged almost 2000m within a few minutes.

Adelaide woman Kerry Jordan’s spine was broken when she was flung around the cabin. She has no feeling from the waist down and may never walk again.

Her husband, Keith Davis, said the company’s compensation offer was “beyond insulting” and added to the distress.

He said he only found out about the compensation offer when it was sent to him by friends. “I expect they would provide adequate compensation for the whole of Kerry’s life,” Davis said.

“It is a totally life-changing condition that’s going to face her. We’re just hopeful for small gains, her mobility is restricted to her arms and her neck and shoulders.”

Singapore Airlines said it invited seriously injured passengers to discuss a compensation offer that meets their specific needs.

It said all passengers’ medical costs were covered, they were paid $1000 to meet their immediate expenses and their flight costs were refunded.

“All affected passengers should have received their offers of compensation via email, along with information on how they may proceed with their claims,” the airline said in a social media post.

Davis said the Singapore Airlines chief executive visited his wife in hospital and offered to visit her again, but Jordan declined

He called the airline’s efforts to apologise to customers “an absolute joke”.

Former senator Nick Xenophon is part of a legal team fighting for a better deal for injured passengers.

He said the company should be offering seriously injured passengers at least $US175,000.

“The Montreal Convention, which governs these incidents in the air, is very clear about what the caps are and what the damages ought to be,” Xenophon said.