ICAO 9973 PDF

FOREWORD

An aircraft accident is an unexpected and usually catastrophic event. Concern for persons who have suffered distress and loss as the result of aircraft accidents has led to increased efforts within the aviation industry to establish means by which the needs of victims and their families can be addressed in a timely fashion.

During its 32nd Session in October 1998, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly considered the subject of assistance to aircraft accident victims and their families. Following a discussion, the Assembly adopted Resolution A32-7, which stated inter alia that:

• the State of Occurrence should address the most critical needs of persons affected by a civil aviation accident;

• the policy of ICAO should be to ensure that the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of victims involved in civil aviation accidents and their families are considered and accommodated by ICAO and its Contracting States;

• it is essential that ICAO and its Contracting States recognize the importance of timely notification of family members of victims involved in aircraft accidents; the prompt recovery and accurate identification of victims; the return of the victims' personal effects; and the dissemination of accurate information to family members;

• governments of nationals, who are victims of civil aviation accidents, have the role of notifying and assisting families of the victims;

• it is essential that support be provided to family members of victims of civil aviation accidents, wherever the accident may occur, and any lessons learnt from support providers, including effective procedures and policies, be promptly disseminated to other Contracting States and ICAO to improve States' family support operations;

• harmonization of the regulations for dealing with the needs of victims of civil aviation accidents and their families is also a humanitarian duty and an optional function of the ICAO Council contemplated in Article 55 (c) of the Chicago Convention;

• States should provide a homogeneous solution for treatment of victims of civil aviation accidents and their families;

• the air carrier involved in a civil aviation accident is often best suited to assist families in the immediate aftermath of the accident;

• family members of victims of a civil aviation accident, irrespective of where the accident occurs or the national origin of the victims, express certain fundamental human needs and emotions; and

• public attention will continue to focus on States' investigative actions, as well as the human interest aspects of a civil aviation accident.