SL Couple Sue Qantas over plunge
Lawyer Roger Singh said the Sri Lankan couple suffered serious physical and psychological injuries in the October 7 incident.
Qantas flight QF72 from Singapore to Perth lost altitude suddenly and nosedived over Western Australia.
The Airbus A330, carrying 303 passengers and 10 crew, was forced to make an emergency landing at Learmonth Airbase in north-western WA.
Forty-four passengers required hospital treatment.
Mr Singh said Sam and Rani Samaratunga who were on their way to their son's wedding in Melbourne, were badly hurt after being flung from their seats.
They will seek an advance payment to help cover what they say are massive medical expenses.
Mrs Samaratunga, 62, suffered spinal fractures which will now affect her ability to care for her 87-year-old mother in Sri Lanka.
"She is the sole carer so she is at her wits end as she will no longer be able to care for her frail mother due to her serious injuries," Mr Singh said.
Mr Samaratunga, 68, suffered spinal and head injuries when he was propelled head first into the locker above his seat and has since been battling stress and memory loss.
"I don't know how we are going to find the courage to get back on a plane again," Mrs Samaratunga said.
The couple are due to fly home to Colombo from Melbourne via Singapore on Sunday.
Qantas has provided a goodwill package to passengers on the flight including return airfares and $300 for out-of-pocket expenses.
Mr Singh said this was inadequate considering the pain and trauma the Samaratungas had suffered, especially considering they now require further medical treatment in Sri Lanka, where there is no public health system.
"We will be seeking substantial compensation from Qantas as the Samaratungas will be impacted from the effects of this incident for the rest of their lives," Mr Singh said.
"This is the third serious incident involving Qantas in recent months and the airline needs to take prompt responsibility for its failings."
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it believed the incident was caused by a fault in the planes computer systems.
Source
Lawyer Roger Singh said the Sri Lankan couple suffered serious physical and psychological injuries in the October 7 incident.
Qantas flight QF72 from Singapore to Perth lost altitude suddenly and nosedived over Western Australia.
The Airbus A330, carrying 303 passengers and 10 crew, was forced to make an emergency landing at Learmonth Airbase in north-western WA.
Forty-four passengers required hospital treatment.
Mr Singh said Sam and Rani Samaratunga who were on their way to their son's wedding in Melbourne, were badly hurt after being flung from their seats.
They will seek an advance payment to help cover what they say are massive medical expenses.
Mrs Samaratunga, 62, suffered spinal fractures which will now affect her ability to care for her 87-year-old mother in Sri Lanka.
"She is the sole carer so she is at her wits end as she will no longer be able to care for her frail mother due to her serious injuries," Mr Singh said.
Mr Samaratunga, 68, suffered spinal and head injuries when he was propelled head first into the locker above his seat and has since been battling stress and memory loss.
"I don't know how we are going to find the courage to get back on a plane again," Mrs Samaratunga said.
The couple are due to fly home to Colombo from Melbourne via Singapore on Sunday.
Qantas has provided a goodwill package to passengers on the flight including return airfares and $300 for out-of-pocket expenses.
Mr Singh said this was inadequate considering the pain and trauma the Samaratungas had suffered, especially considering they now require further medical treatment in Sri Lanka, where there is no public health system.
"We will be seeking substantial compensation from Qantas as the Samaratungas will be impacted from the effects of this incident for the rest of their lives," Mr Singh said.
"This is the third serious incident involving Qantas in recent months and the airline needs to take prompt responsibility for its failings."
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it believed the incident was caused by a fault in the planes computer systems.
Source
