Families of air accident victims to receive up to Rs6 crore under new law

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Defence Sub-Committee has approved the Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill 2025, which sets compensation for passengers in case of accidents during air travel.

Under the new bill, families of passengers who die in international flights will receive Rs6 crore, while families of passengers who die during domestic flights will receive Rs2 crore. In the event of lost baggage, airlines will pay Rs600,000 per bag.

The Defence Sub-Committee also decided to visit residents near the Kinuup area to understand the issues they face. During the meeting, members considered compensation for PIA flight victims, including life insurance and property claims, as proposed by MNA Muhammad Moeen Amir Pirzada.

PIA officials confirmed that payments had already been made to the family of the affected woman, Roshna Ansar. The sub-committee reviewed the Carriage by Air Amendment Bill 2025 in detail.

The Ministry of Defence’s legal advisor explained that the bill proposes Rs6 crore compensation for families in the event of accidental death during international travel. For lost or damaged baggage, the airline will pay Rs600,000 per bag.

For domestic flights, families of passengers who die accidentally will receive Rs2 crore, and compensation for lost or damaged cargo will be Rs5,000 per kilogram. The Defence Sub-Committee formally approved the Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill 2025