The International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Their Families takes place on Thursday, 20 February. The day was established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in 2021 to improve the care, resources and information offered to accident victims and their loved ones following aviation accidents.
In this article, partner Sarah Stewart and paralegal Kenza Sieber explain ICAO’s role in improving global air safety standards.
What is ICAO?
ICAO is a United Nations agency that promotes aviation safety and the development of a network of global air mobility through its expert support and technical and diplomatic guidance.
The formation of ICAO came into being in 1947, following the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the “Chicago Convention”) which was signed on 7 December 1944.
ICAO’s policy on the provision of family assistance requires the commitment of resources to the following, among others:
- Information about the occurrence
- Emergency response to the accident
- Support for immediate financial needs
- Information about the progress of the investigation and its objective.
The Chicago Convention
The Chicago Convention was established in 1944 to promote international cooperative efforts in pursuit of the development of a global air transport network.
The policy of ICAO emphasises the emotional, physical and spiritual well-being of victims involved in civil aviation accidents and their families. Through coordination across ICAO member states, ICAO helps establish and maintain international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and Procedures for Air Navigation (PANS). These processes are key to global aviation safety and efficiency in the air and on the ground.
Since the Chicago Convention came into effect, more than 12,000 international standards and SARPs have been implemented.
The Chicago Convention has been revised eight times since 1944. It continues to evolve and adapt to the changing demands of the global aviation industry. Some provisions of the Chicago Convention are as follows:
- Annex 9 – Facilitation
Annex 9 contains SARPs and guidance material that help enforce compliance by the civil aviation community with aviation safety-related laws. It aims to facilitate international air transport procedures and uphold high standards of safety, security and efficiency through cooperation among states.
- Annex 13 – Aircraft accident and incident investigations
Annex 13 focuses on the prevention of aviation accidents and incidents through the establishment of an accident investigation authority independent from state aviation authorities.
Each state shall establish an accident investigation authority that will investigate aviation accidents for the purposes of aviation safety. The sole objective of the investigation of an accident or incident shall be the prevention of accidents and incidents. It is not its purpose to apportion blame or liability.
Annex 13’s core characteristics are as follows:
- Independence
- Protection of evidence
- Management of safety
- The importance of information
- Resolution A41-14 – Assistance to victims of aviation accidents and their families
This resolution encourages states to reaffirm their commitment to supporting victims of civil aviation accidents and their family members by establishing and reviewing legislation, regulations and/or policies pursuant to ICAO Annex 9 and the Montreal Convention 1999 (formally the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air).
The Symposium on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and their Families
The second ICAO Symposium on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and their Families took place in Haarlem, Netherlands from 26 to 28 November 2024.
The symposium is an opportunity to enhance international cooperation by bringing witnesses, experts and policymakers together and exchanging experiences to help establish best practices for assisting accident victims and their families.
Our Aviation partner Sarah Stewart attended the symposium, and participated as a guest speaker at the event.
The symposium helps contribute towards ICAO’s zero fatality goal.
A message from our Aviation team
We remain committed to enhancing aviation safety through collaboration with industry experts while supporting air accident victims and their families.
Our thoughts are with those affected.
You can find further information regarding our expertise, experience and team on our Aviation pages.
If you require assistance from our team, please contact us or alternatively request a call back from one of our lawyers by submitting this form.
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