Kennedys to pay £10m to air crash victims - report

The Kennedy family are reported to be paying more than £10m compensation for the deaths of two sisters in the crash of the light plane piloted by John F Kennedy Jr.

The deal comes after two years of intense legal wrangling, according to reports in New York.

The Kennedy’s will pay the family of Carolyn and Lauren Bessette $15m for their deaths.

Carolyn was married to John Kennedy, son of the assassinated president, and the three were on their way to a wedding in his light plane when it crashed into the Atlantic. An inquiry blamed pilot error.

The reports said JFK Jr’s estate - administered by his sister, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg - will pay the compensation to the Bessettes.

Sources said the ruling will reveal the estate’s value - estimated at up to £70m.

JFK Jr left the money - out of which the compensation to the Bessettes will be paid - to his sister’s children.

Since the air crash in July 1999, the two grieving families have bickered over how much the Kennedys should pay the Bessettes.

Negotiations reportedly started 18 months ago with an offer by the Kennedys of around £5m. The Bessettes demanded at least £14m.