KOCHI: In the wake of repeated cases of houses getting damaged due to aircraft ‘flying at low altitude’ near Cochin International Airport Ltd (Cial), the airport authorities are exploring the possibilities of providing compensation to the owners from the airport’s CSR funds. It is for the third time in a year that tiled houses near the airport are being damaged under the impact of ‘low-flying aircraft’.In the latest incident, roof tiles of the house of K A Simon of Kattiparambil House at Nedumbassery had reportedly fallen under the impact of a low-flying aircraft on Sunday morning. The directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) will seek a report on the issue. “We haven’t got any information regarding it so far. We will ask the DGCA officials in Kochi to submit a report immediately,” a top official with the DGCA air safety wing in Delhi told TOI.“We will conduct an inquiry into incidents of aircraft flying low causing damages to houses. Though we don’t have any direct obligation, we will consider ways to compensate the owners on humanitarian grounds,” Cial sources said.“If a house owner is to seek compensation from an airline company, it will be a long and strenuous process. The involvement of the Union govt will also be needed. In case the aircraft belongs to a foreign airline, govt-to-govt interaction is needed. It involves a labyrinth of formalities. That’s why we are exploring if Cial can provide compensation. We will have to design a policy if the proposal is approved,” they added.Cial authorities who conducted a preliminary check said that it is prima facie evident that the damages to Simon’s house were caused by a low-flying aircraft. They said that it might be a foreign airline.“The authorities should take immediate steps to provide compensation to the house owner. There should be measures to avoid such incidents in the future as well,” Aluva MLA Anwar Sadath said.Simon, 80, and his wife Sosamma, 70, are now staying in Simon’s brother’s house nearby. “We will have to rent a house until a solution has evolved. Cracks have appeared on the walls of the house as well,” Sosamma said.The couple has lodged complaints with the Cial authorities and Nedumbassery police.
