Families of Thai plane crash dead to be paid 130,000 dollars

BANGKOK: Relatives of each of the 89 people who died when a Thai passenger jet crashed in Phuket will receive at least 130,000 dollars in compensation, the transport ministry said Wednesday.   

One-Two-Go, operators of the jet which crashed in bad weather Sunday, has insurance worth 300 million dollars with Lloyd's of London, the airline and the transport ministry said.   

"The transport ministry will try its best to ensure that the airline will fully compensate crash dead and survivors," the ministry said in a statement. "Initially the insurance company will pay 130,000 dollars for dead victims."   

One-Two-Go is in the process of negotiating with the insurance company to find out if the compensation figure can be raised, with talks expected to conclude within a few days.   

One-Two-Go will also pay 2,900 dollars to cover funeral expenses for the dead. The 41 survivors will have all medical expenses paid as well as receiving an undisclosed payout.   

"Absolutely we will compensate for injuries, but first we have to pay for the dead victims," One-Two-Go vice president Kajit Habanananda said.   

The airline said that 54 foreigners and 35 Thais died Sunday when the McDonnell Douglas MD-82 aircraft careered off the runway in bad weather and burst into flames on the holiday island of Phuket.