Families of Germanwings victims 'appalled' by 'totally insufficient' compensation offer

A plane carrying the victims' remains touches down in Germany Credit: Reuters

Families of 35 passengers who died when a pilot deliberately crashed his plane into the French Alps are "appalled" by the amount of compensation offered to them by Lufthansa, according to their lawyer.

Lufthansa has offered €25,000 per victim, plus €10,000 to each close relative as compensation for immaterial damage, for people who died in the tragic Germanwings crash on 24 March. This money would come on top of the €50,000 per victim given to families in immediate support in the days after the crash.

"The reactions ranged from blank horror and rage to despair and bitterness," Elmar Giemulla, a lawyer representing families of 35 victims, told NBC News.

Giemulla described the current offer as "totally insufficient," adding that it only deems children, parents, and spouses or partners as close relatives. Siblings and grandparents would not be considered.

He said that a six-figure sum per surviving dependent would be more appropriate.

"That I could explain to them, I can't explain €10,000," he added.

According to representatives for the Germanwings families, compensation after the crash of an Air France Concorde in 2000 was about €1m per victim.

A Germanwings spokesman told NBC News that he would not comment on remarks made by the victims' representatives as the company was awaiting an official response to the offer. ITV News has also approached the company for comment.