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A Renowned legal practitioner and Aviation expert, Anthony O. Odigwe Esq., has highlighted the major causes of airplane crashes and outlined the legal rights of air passengers, as he stated that public awareness remains critical to safety and accountability in the aviation sector.
Daily Independent learnt this from Anthony O. Odigwe Esq. while addressing a group of Journalists in Asaba, Delta State Capital, today being on Monday, August 3, 2026, as he shared lights on the causes of Airplane Crashes and the legal rights of passengers.
The legal ICON had stated that, although air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation globally, accidents still occur. He explained that crashes are rarely caused by a single factor but rather by a combination of human, technical, and environmental circumstances.
Speaking to Journalists on the causes of Airplane Crashes, Anthony Okolocha Odigwe Esq. stated: “The common causes of air accidents include, amongst others are: Pilot or human error, mechanical failure, poor maintenance, severe weather conditions, air traffic control errors, bird strikes, fuel problems, and acts of sabotage or terrorism”.
“My recommendations here are: That the aviation authorities conduct independent investigations after every incident to determine the cause and recommend measures to prevent recurrence”.
“On passengers’ rights: Travelers are entitled to safe transportation under applicable aviation regulations. Also, Airlines have a duty of care to ensure flights are operated in line with established safety standards at all times”.
“In cases of death or bodily injury resulting from an accident, passengers or their families may be entitled to compensation. This is in line with the Montreal Convention of 1999 as one of the key international instruments governing liability for many international flights”.
“Also, the passengers possess the right to information and the right to seek legal redress as critical protections. Airlines are obligated to provide accurate information and necessary assistance after an accident. And affected persons can pursue claims where negligence or legal wrongdoing is established”.
“My advice here is that passengers involved in aviation accidents should keep travel documents and boarding passes, obtain immediate medical attention, preserve relevant records, and seek independent legal advice before accepting any settlement. And legal claims are subject to time limits; therefore, travelers should be adequately informed.
“Finally, it should be noted that an informed passenger is a protected passenger. To this end, safety, accountability, and public confidence remain the foundation of air travel”.
