By Tobi Adetunji
The International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) convened its first-ever international Symposium on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and their Families.
According to the frontline body, the initative will provide an important platform to enhance global cooperation toward their care and treatment.
The three-day event is being hosted by Spain, and features the attendance and participation of its Secretary General for Transport and Mobility (MITMA), Maria José Rallo, its Director General of Civil Aviation, Raúl Medina Caballero, and its Representative on the ICAO Council, Victor M. and other ICAO officials and experts.
In his welcome address, ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano remarked that, “Respect for victims of civil aviation accidents and the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of their families is of paramount importance to ICAO, and we work diligently to ensure that these needs are considered and accommodated by States.”
Speaking further, the Secretary General Salazar stressed in his opening remarks that “Aviation safety is an incredible team effort, but this same cooperation must also be directed toward ensuring the rights of accident victims and their families in the aftermath of these tragic events.”
Recall that ICAO first issued guidance on family assistance in 2001, and in 2013. It published the ICAO Policy on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and their Families and an accompanying manual. The topic was also formally acknowledged by countries at consecutive ICAO Assemblies, in 2013 and 2016, and considered by a special session of the 13th ICAO Air Navigation Conference in 2018.
Earlier this year the ICAO Council held a further meeting on the subject with the Air Crash Victims’ Families’ Federation International (ACVFFI), and in a related development, the ICAO Facilitation Panel has recently recommended that associated priorities be enshrined in a full ICAO Standard, in order to assure stronger international compliance and alignment.
In addition to the Symposium now underway, ICAO is currently developing a training course to help countries set out appropriate family assistance legislation, regulations, and plans.
Mr. Sciacchitano also announced at the event that the ICAO Council has very recently approved the establishment of 20 February as a new international day for the commemoration of lives that have been lost due to aircraft accidents.
Both ICAO leaders recognized the invaluable dedication and contributions of the Air Crash Victims’ Families’ Federation International towards the international prioritization of these issues, and expressed ICAO’s deep appreciation to the Governments of Spain and the Canary Islands for making the event possible.