Air Traffic Controllers Go Before Judge
July 19th, 2011
Yesterday the Court of Instruction No. 3 in Madrid began taking statements from the 16 air traffic controllers charged with abandonment of the control towers that caused the closure of airspace on 3rd and 4th of December last year.
The hearings began with the statements of four of the controllers and will last until 21st July, in the court premises of Plaza de Castilla (Madrid). On Tuesday, the President of the Union of Air Traffic Controllers Association (USCA), Camilo Cela was summoned to make a statement.
The union represents more than 90 percent of the group and Cela is the only member of senior management involved in the case. The lawsuit, filed by the firm Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo on behalf of about 10,000 citizens affected, is claiming compensation of 10,000 euros for each passenger. The deadline for claims ends on 3rd December this year.
State of Emergency
The plaintiffs demand the controllers be held accountable for damages caused by the chaos caused by the strike, and as well as the private criminal proceedings charges, lawyers for the victims have filed a claim against AENA for pecuniary liability, which could exceed 10 million euros.
On 6th May, Judge Maria del Sagrario Herrero accepted the claim and ordered the investigation of the identity of the controllers, who were due to work the shifts set for those days, and that they be called to testify. In addition, the judge asked for documentation from the Presidency of the Government and the Defense Ministers, on the decree of a state of emergency and the militarisation of the control towers, and all orders given to civilians or officials who were in the airports by the military. The judge also asked the Ministry of the Interior to certify the agreements reached by the Crisis Cabinet during those days, and the Judicial Police at Barajas to provide copies of the orders received during the closure of the airspace.
Related Posts
- Ryanair to Take Legal Action Against Air traffic Controllers
- Spanish Air Traffic Controllers Call Off August Strike
- Air Traffic Controller Strike Could Affect 2m Holidaymakers in Spain
