Singapore Airlines yesterday explained the actions it took in the hours following the crash of flight SQ006 as relatives of victims in the crash questioned the pilot's decision to take off in a storm and criticized the airline for not releasing a list of victims earlier.
"Singapore Airlines was too slow in providing us with immediate information in Singapore. We got information from the media, not from the airline," one family member said after arriving at the CKS International Airport yesterday.
The airline released a list of victims on Wednesday evening, but by that time, many media reports had already announced the doomed flight's boarding list.
Singapore Airlines officials emphasized yesterday that the airline did not make public the victims list until Wednesday because they had to gain the consent of passengers and families before announcing the names.
"People from different countries have various reactions to this kind of situation," said Sharon Wu (
According to airline officials, all news releases had to be approved by their headquarters in Singapore.
"We are very prudent in making any statements," Wu said.
Arriving in Taipei around midnight on Wednesday, the airline's Chief Executive Officer Cheong Choong Kong (
"I have come here directly from Christchurch, New Zealand, where I was attending a business meeting," he said, adding, "I wanted to be here."
The airline has defended 41-year-old Captain Foong Chee Kong's decision to take off. Officials from the company both in Taiwan and Singapore noted Tuesday night's visibility level of 450-550m at CKS airport exceeded the minimum requirement of 200m needed for takeoff.
"It is important that we stick to the facts. Speculation and theories cannot do anything to help anyone," Cheong said yesterday.
"We are working closely with Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration investigation team," Cheong added.
The airline has brought 150 support staff from Singapore. Some of them will assist with the investigation, but the majority "are specially trained to support the passengers and their families through such difficult situations," he said.
They will also assist by providing immediate compensation to passengers and families of the victims, according to Wu.
The airline will offer US$25,000 as immediate relief to the next of kin of the 81 killed in the crash and US$5,000 for each survivor to assist with their expenses, she said.
"The distribution is expected to be carried out within two days," she said.
Next of kin of more than 70 percent of the passengers on the flight had been contacted and more than 90 percent of those have gathered at the airline's base at CKS hotel next to the airport, according to the airline.
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