More than half of the 53 passengers have dropped a class suit for compensation against Asiana Airlines over a crash landing in San Francisco in 2013 as they settled with the air carrier, according to their legal representatives Tuesday.

An attorney of Barum Law LLC said 29 clients have reached settlements for “a satisfactory sum.” They also have agreed not to reveal the amount of settlement money. 



The law firm filed the complaint on June last year in the Seoul Central District Court on behalf of 53 plaintiffs -- 27 Koreans, 25 Chinese and one Indian national who lives in Korea.

They sought a total of 34.28 billion won in damages. They also filed a separate compensation suit in a U.S. court against Boeing, manufacturer of the Asiana aircraft that slammed into a runway at San Francisco airport after clipping a sea wall. Three were killed while more than 180 suffered injuries in the crash. The flight carried a total of 307 passengers and crew.

Passengers who reached the settlement with Asiana are 15 Koreans and 14 Chinese, the firm said. They will be paid by both Asiana and Boeing, the firm said.

The rest of the passengers who sought damages are also negotiating with the two companies, saying they hope settle the case rather than bring it to the court, it added.

Passengers claimed that they suffered injuries including spinal damage and fractures as well as emotional distress caused by the accident.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the accident occurred as the pilots mismanaged their landing approach and unintentionally shut off an automatic speed control system that could have prevented the accident.



By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)