Multimillion-dollar settlement in Air Canada crash at Halifax airport approved by court

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court has approved a settlement in a class-action suit filed on behalf of passengers on Air Canada flight AC624, which crashed on approach to Stanfield International Airport in Halifax in March 2015. Photo by RYAN TAPLIN /StaffArticle contentThe Supreme Court of Nova Scotia has approved a multimillion-dollar settlement in a class action that stemmed from the crash of an Air Canada flight at Stanfield International Airport in Halifax on March 29, 2015.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe lawsuit was launched on behalf of passengers on the flight against Air Canada, Airbus, Nav Canada, the Halifax International Airport Authority, the Attorney General of Canada and the pilots, alleging they were at fault for causing the crash and that class members suffered injuries as a result.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe case had been set for trial earlier this year, but the proposed settlement put an end to that.Article contentThe $18,075,000 settlement will be paid by Air Canada, Nav Canada and Halifax International Airport Authority.Article contentBesides awards to the passengers, the amount includes administration fees, honoraria, legal fees, costs, taxes and interest, and an allocation to address the claims of public health insurers.Article contentThe legal fees amounted to $5.7 million.Article contentAir Canada will pay $15,075,000 of the total, with Nav Canada paying $3.2 million and the airport authority paying $1 million.Article contentOf the 133 passengers on Air Canada Flight AC624 that day, two opted out of the suit. Of the 131 others, lawyers were unable to reach two.Article contentAwards to the passengers consider the range of physical and psychological injuries, their severity and their duration.Article contentThe plaintiffs in the case were represented by three law firms: Wagners, MacGillivray Law and Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman.Article contentArticle contentRay Wagner of Wagners said that because the settlement is a negotiated compromise it doesn’t include any admission or finding of liability against the airline, Nav Canada or the airport authority.Article contentDistribution and findingsArticle contentHe said 70 of the 131 passengers will receive $10,000, $20,000 or $30,000 depending on the injuries they suffered. The rest will receive from $30,000 to, in a few cases, hundreds of thousands of dollars.Article contentThe passengers should receive their money in the next six weeks because the claimants have all been assessed and there are no claims processes to go through.Article contentThe Transportation Safety Board report on the crash, published in 2017, said the Airbus A320-211 severed power lines with its engines, then struck the ground about 740 feet short of the runway threshold while conducting a “non-precision approach” on its flight from Toronto.Article contentWeather had been poor before there was a break that allowed the plane to make its approach.Article contentIt struck an antenna array and hit the ground twice before sliding, ending up on the left side about 1,900 feet beyond the runway.