NTSB PUBLISHES REVISED FRAMEWORK FOR AIR CARRIER FAMILY ASSISTANCE PLANS
September 6, 2023
On August 23, 2023, the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) published a new version of the Federal Family Assistance Plan for Aviation Disasters, entitled Federal Family Assistance Framework for Aviation Disasters (“Framework”). The new Framework provides assistance to air carriers in drafting the Family Assistance Plan, emphasizing four central concerns: (1) Notification of families regarding passenger involvement; (2) victim accounting, including search and rescue efforts, transportation of passengers to nearby hospitals, and victim identification; (3) identifying resources and information available to families, including receipt of investigative updates, and financial and logistical support; and (4) recovering personal effects and personal items from affected passengers. While not intended to serve as an all-inclusive checklist when drafting a Family Assistance Plan, the new notice provides further support to air carriers when considering what elements to include in their Family Assistance Plan. Air carriers are not required to make changes to their current response plans to implement the new framework, but are encouraged to consider whether their current plan aligns with the NTSB’s revisions.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr at 202.659.6622 or esahr@eckertseamans.com; Drew Derco at 202-659-6665 or dderco@eckertseamans.com; Jay Julien at 202.659.6648 or jjulien@eckertseamans.com, or any other attorney at Eckert Seamans with whom you have been working.
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