Families of victims on China Airlines flight CI611 went to the Control Yuan yesterday to request that it investigate whether the Ministry of Transportation and Communication has been negligent in its oversight of the airline since the flight crashed into the Taiwan Strait in May.
The request followed China Airline's failure to reopen talks over compensation after it abruptly changed the venue for scheduled negotiations last week.
"The government holds a 72 percent share in China Airlines. While the company has not been sincere in its negotiations with us, the [transport minister] also refused to attend the negotiation meeting? All of these thing show that the ministry neglected its duties to protect consumers' rights," said Cheng Jen-hung (程仁宏), secretary general of the Taiwan Consumers' Foundation.
Cheng, an attorney who, along with other foundation lawyers is helping the families in their compensation negotiations, led representatives of families to the Control Yuan yesterday to accuse the airline and the ministry of ignoring aviation safety.
Scheduled negotiations were canceled at the last minute last Monday when the airline suddenly announced a change of venue after victims' families had already arrived at the company's office, the prearranged venue. They vowed to file a complaint to the Control Yuan if negotiations were not reopened within a week, hence yesterday's complaint.
"China Airlines has closed the door on negotiations without reaching any agreement with families of the victims," Cheng said.
Cheng also raised doubts about the airline's determination to improve its aviation safety record. "The transportation ministry should take responsibility for its failed supervision. And we wish the Control Yuan could investigate into this part," Cheng added.
Control Yuan members Lee Shen-yi (李伸一) and Chao Ron-yaw (趙榮耀) launched an investigation into the case after the crash last May which killed 225 passengers.
The two yesterday received the written complaint from representatives of families of victims. They said the official report will not be announced until the investigation is completed, but the families' complaint would be taken into account.
The Aviation Safety Council is still investigating the incident. Preliminary findings suggested metal fatigue might be one reason the plane broke up.
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