The third set of negotiations between China Airlines and the family members of flight CI611 victims broke down yesterday, as both sides failed to come up with an agreement over the amount of compensation.
During the talks, held yesterday at the Asiaworld Plaza Hotel (
China Airlines spokesman Roger Han (
Cause still unclear
"It's not the time to strike a final deal because the real reason for the crash has not been discovered yet," he said.
The dispute over compensation was also responsible for the break down of the past session of negotiations.
In the first negotiation meeting on June 24, one month after the Boeing 747 crashed into the sea with 225 passengers and crew on board, China Airlines offered NT$12.5 million for each casualty. But family members of those killed said that they would not accept a number until they knew the cause of the accident.
Although there was still no consensus regarding the amount of compensation during the second set of talks on July 6, the airline offered an interim sum of NT$6.5 million to each family for "emergency use." China Airlines said that the amount would later be deducted from the total amount of compensation to be decided in future discussions.
Fatigue cracks
In the meantime, Aviation Safety Council Managing Director Kay Yong (
The Post report said cracks in the rear fuselage where the plane was repaired 22 years ago may be the cause of the crash. The repair was conducted after a "tail strike," which is when the rear of the aircraft hits the runway as a result of taking off at too steep an angle.
"According to our records, the repair was done on Feb. 7, 1980. We knew that already but there is no sign linking the repair to the crash," Yong said.
China Airlines' 747 broke up into four pieces in mid air on May 25, en route to Hong Kong.
Investigators have retrieved 60 percent of the wreckage.
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