Aviation

Ex-Flight Attendant Sues Singapore Airlines for $1.3M Alleging Unsafe Work Conditions

A former flight attendant for Singapore Airlines, Durairaj Santiran, has filed a lawsuit against the carrier seeking $1.3 million in damages. Santiran alleges that the airline failed to provide a safe working environment, resulting in a career-ending injury sustained during a 17-hour flight in 2019.

Santiran stated in an appearance before Singapore’s High Court that a grease patch on the aircraft caused him to slip and strike his head. He claims that the cervical disc prolapse he was diagnosed with after the incident kept him from carrying out his duties as a member of the cabin crew.

The legal team representing Singapore Airlines contests Santiran’s story, casting doubt on the existence of the alleged grease patch and arguing that the fall happened in a different area of the aircraft. The airline makes a point of actively challenging claims that are judged to be fraudulent or invalid while upholding its commitment to satisfying valid ones.

According to Santiran, the incident took place on an Airbus A350 flight from San Francisco to Singapore, approximately two hours before landing.In seeking $1.3 million in compensation, Santiran’s claim primarily encompasses losses in future earnings and medical expenses resulting from the diagnosed cervical disc prolapse.

In response, Singapore Airlines’ legal team disputed these allegations, claiming that Santiran fell in a different area of the aircraft and that there was no proof of a grease patch. Furthermore, it was disclosed that Santiran had previously filed work injury claims in 2017 and 2018, which the airline had acknowledged in their opening statement but had not contested. Over the next ten days, his lawsuit’s proceedings will take place.

Aviation

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly