China Airlines offered additional compensation yesterday to the families of 53 victims whose bodies are still missing after a plane crash more than two months ago killed all 225 on board.
The airline has not reached an agreement for overall compensation with family members. Originally the airline had offered to pay NT$12.5 million (US$368,731) for each victim killed in the crash, but some family members rejected that figure as insufficient.
The cause of the crash is still a mystery. Investigators said the Boeing 747-200 broke apart about 20 minutes after taking off from Taipei for Hong Kong on May 25. The pilots never indicated any problems before Flight CI611 plunged into the Taiwan Strait near Penghu. The weather was clear and security officials doubt that a bomb or a missile downed the plane.
While 60 percent of the wreckage has been recovered, investigators have said they will need at least another 20 percent to have a clear idea of what caused the crash.
Efforts to recover bodies and remains of the wreckage have been difficult as much of the plane lies about 60m underwater. Strong currents and rapidly shifting tides have also made the search difficult.
China Airlines has also agreed to set up a memorial for the victims in Taipei or on Penghu Island.
RSS