Lawsuits over tragedy could see €100m payout

Lawsuits will be filed in Britain, the US and Ireland within weeks by lawyers acting for survivors of the Manx2 plane crash.

Specialist aviation lawyers at London-based Stewarts Law LLP confirmed last night that the legal proceedings — which could result in a €100m payout — are advancing.

“Stewarts Law continue to press for justice and answers for the families and survivors; lawsuits are being prepared in Ireland and the UK as well as in the US,” said head of aviation, James Healy-Pratt.

His firm represents some survivors of last February’s tragedy at Cork Airport when a Metroliner aircraft crashed on its third attempt to land in fog.

Several of the survivors will gather in Belfast today for a private memorial to mark the first anniversary of the tragedy.

Prayers will also be offered at Mass in Ballyphehane in Cork this morning, which is due to be attended by members of the city’s emergency services and representatives of Cork Airport.

The Department of Transport’s Air Accident Investigation Unit’s interim statement this week noted the findings of last March’s preliminary report which stated there were no pre-accident defects in the plane’s engines.

However, it said investigators had identified a power anomaly in the aircraft’s engines and a sensor fault in one of its engines.

Its investigations are continuing to establish what caused the loss of control of the flight.

Mr Healy-Pratt said it was the decision of the crew to make a third illegal approach to land that remained the primary cause of the crash.

“This accident was caused primarily by the pilots doing the aviation equivalent of jumping three red traffic lights in fog. While this act was the proximate cause, the recent information released in relation to the engine issues may have been part of the chain of problems.

“The interim statement released by the AAIU this week highlights the concerns that the families and survivors have over the relationship between the airline [Manx2] and the operator of the aircraft [Flightline].

“There remain questions over the legal operation by Flightline given the withdrawal of their air operators certificate and concerns expressed by the Air Safety Commission of the European Commission.

“Further questions now need to be asked about the extent of any engine issues but for the families, the aircraft should never have been in a situation where that mattered.”