Passengers on turbulent Singapore Airlines flight could earn $170K in compensation

Singapore Airlines could be liable for up to US$170,000 per passenger under the Montreal Convention, the South China Morning Post reported.

The convention is an international agreement that governs global airline liability in passenger death and injury cases.

However, passengers can seek larger damages.

Peter Neenan, a partner who specializes in aviation litigation at London-based firm Stewarts, told Bloomberg that victims who suffered similarly severe injuries as those on board the Singapore Airlines SQ321 flight reached "easily into seven and sometimes eight-figure claims."

However, the compensation amount can only be determined once the investigation into the flight is complete, which could take years.

Additionally, the amount each passenger receives could vary significantly even for identical injuries because the size of the damages often depends on the country where the case is filed and how the legal system determines compensation, according to Reuters.

Flight SQ321 was flying from London to Singapore last Tuesday when it experienced sudden extreme turbulence over Myanmar, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, Thailand, according to AFP.

The incident killed a 73-year-old British tourist, Geoffrey Kitchen, and left 104 others injured.

Doctors revealed last Thursday that several dozen people sustained traumatic and potentially life-changing injuries.

Some patients experienced paralysis, 22 received treatment for spinal and spinal cord injuries, and another six are being treated for skull and brain trauma.

As of Friday, 48 people are still hospitalized in Bangkok.