ALSO: Read the NTSB news release MESSAGE BOARD: Air safety

September 8, 1999
Web posted at: 11:50 a.m. EDT (1550 GMT)

In this story: 'Sensitivity to both survivors and the families of victims' RELATED STORIES, SITES

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The nation's major airlines have agreed to foot the bill for families who wish to travel to the sites of air disasters and to pay local communities for most "extraordinary expenses" for emergency responses.

In the past, airlines involved in catastrophic accidents frequently paid travel expenses for victims' families.

Tuesday's agreement between the Air Transport Association and the National Transportation Safety Board makes the arrangement formal.

"This agreement is a huge step in our efforts to provide some comfort to the families of airplane accident victims and to properly reimburse local communities for their efforts," Jim Hall, chairman of the NTSB, said in a written statement.

The ATA is a trade organization that represents the largest U.S. airlines The NTSB is the government agency responsible for investigating airline accidents.

The agreement states that ATA member airlines will reimburse and/or pay for travel and logistical expenses for families who want to travel to the accident site. The airlines also have agreed to reimburse local officials for the cost of recovering victims and identifying them -- including DNA analysis if necessary.

In cases where large jetliners have crashed in small communities, the cost of search, rescue and recovery operations have proven burdensome. Under the agreement, ATA member airlines "will reimburse most extraordinary expenses for emergency response," the NTSB statement said.

"Airline accidents are extremely rare," said ATA President Carol Hallett.

"But when they do occur," she said, "the airline industry and the government have a responsibility to handle after-accident issues fairly and with sensitivity to both survivors and the families of victims."

She described the agreement as "both sensitive and fair to all involved in these unfortunate tragedies."

The NTSB said it would continue to pay the cost of investigating airline accidents.

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