Wait in plane crash damages case

Wait in plane crash damages case

Four crew members died in the plane crash

A group of Essex villagers who say they suffered psychiatric injuries after a plane crash must wait to see if they can sue the airline for damages.

The 13 people from Great Hallingbury, near the Hertfordshire town of Bishop's Stortford, claim they feared for their lives after a Boeing 747 crashed near their homes in December 1999.

Barrister Philip Shepherd has asked the High Court to rule the villagers are entitled to sue Korean Airlines under the 1982 Civil Aviation Act.

Charles Pugh QC, for Korean Airlines, argued that mental injuries were not covered by the 1982 Act.

After two days of legal arguments, Mr Justice Simon reserved his judgement to a later date.

He did not indicate when he would give his ruling in the case.

All four crew members on the cargo jet, bound for Milan, were killed when the plane crashed shortly after take-off from Stansted Airport.