Cubana de Aviacion to open Guatamalan office to deal with crash vicitms' families' claims

Airline Industry Information, Dec 29, 1999

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Cubana de Aviacion, the operator of an aircraft that crashed on 21 December at Guatemala`s La Aurora International Airport, has stated that it is opening an office in Guatemala City to deal with claims from the families of victims and survivors of the crash.

The ESI Cuba insurance company, which is reinsured in Britain will be responsible for handling the claims according to Agencia EFE.

Meanwhile, the cause of the accident is still unknown, but attorneys with one Miami-based law office have indicated that whoever is found responsible, whether the French company that owns the aircraft or Cubana de Aviacion, will be charged with homicide and negligence resulting in injuries.

Lastly, the Cuban president Fidel Castro attended the funeral on 23 December for the eight crew members who were killed during the accident and praised their experience in averting what could have been a much larger disaster.

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