Tanzanian Plane Crash Victims to Receive $170Million in Compensation

Relatives of the 19 people killed when a Tanzanian passenger plane crash-landed in Lake Victoria over the weekend are entitled to compensation of $170 million.

Precision Air flight PW494 carrying 39 passengers (38 adults and a toddler) plus four crew members crashed into the lake close to the town of Bukoba early Sunday as it flew from the commercial city of Dar es Salaam.

Commissioner of Insurance at the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA), Baghayo Saqware said the crashed airline had valid insurance.

While speaking during a road safety seminar for members of parliament in Tanzania’s capital city Dodoma, Saqware said the money will be paid as soon as investigations are completed.

According to the Tanzania Airports Authority, the preliminary probe report will be issued in 14 days but the final investigation, which involves international experts, including the plane’s manufacturers from France, is likely to take longer.

The plane crash is Tanzania’s first deadly aviation accident in decades.

Chairman of the Association of Tanzania Insurers, Khamis Suleiman said that in line with the principles of strict liability, the relatives of each person who dies in a plane crash are entitled to a payment of $129,000.