FlyDubai passengers may receive millions - who will get the money

Passengers on a FlyDubai flight where the co-pilot attempted to take control may be eligible for compensation of up to $250,000 each, even without physical injuries. Lawyers are exploring the possibility of lawsuits based on the Montreal Convention and an Israeli precedent involving the hijacking of an Air France flight.

Passengers on a FlyDubai flight where the co-pilot attempted to take control may be eligible for substantial compensation. According to attorney Deborah Sturman of the American firm Motley Rice, each of the 174 Israelis on board could receive up to $250,000, even without physical injuries. Lawyers are exploring the possibility of filing lawsuits based on the Montreal Convention, which has been in effect in Israel since 2011. The convention sets carrier liability at up to 151,880 Special Drawing Rights (about 630,000 shekels). A key precedent may be the Israeli Supreme Court ruling on the 1976 hijacking of an Air France plane in Entebbe, which classified hijacking as an aviation accident and allowed for consideration of moral damages. Automatic payments are not provided — each passenger must prove the connection between their psychological trauma and the incident. If the established limit is exceeded, FlyDubai may attempt to contest its own negligence. The total amount of claims could reach tens of millions of dollars.