China Eastern Airlines is facing a potential lawsuit for
contamination and environmental pollution to a park where one of
its planes crashed a year ago. The airline company and park
administrators are in the midst of negotiations, but if talks fail,
the park will likely sue for 105 million yuan (US$13 million) in
compensation, according to Yu Wei, director of the administrative
office of the park.?
A China Eastern passenger plane carrying 47 passengers and six
crew members crashed into the lake in Nanhai Park in Baotou, Inner
Mongolia Autonomous Region, shortly after take-off on November 21
last year. All?53 onboard and two people on the ground died as
a result.
The Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences released an
evaluation paper on Monday saying that the accident resulted in
economic losses valued at about 105 million yuan (US$13
million).
The crash also destroyed the lake's ecological system, largely
reducing the variety of life forms in the lake, according to the
report.
Moreover, the ensuing heavy oil spill seriously contaminated the
park's wetland system.
China Eastern refused to comment on the matter.
According to Yu, the amount being asked for only covers direct
economic losses. Total losses are much higher, he said.
Half of the harbor in the park was destroyed, Yu said. Most
tourist boats and related facilities also burned down.
In April, China Eastern paid 2 million yuan (US$246,000) to
Nanhai Park to help it resume operations, but that was too little,
according to park officials.
A sticking point in compensation negotiations is that the park
wants the airlines to compensate employees for the park's dismal
business following the disaster.
Park officials also insist that the airlines pay for the
reconstruction of restaurants.
In addition, 21 family members of crash victims have already
filed a lawsuit in California, the United States, demanding
compensation from Canadian plane manufacturer, Bombardier, and
engine maker, GE, for product defects that they say caused the
accident.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily November 22,
2005)