On February 11, 2025, Pilar Vera, Chairwoman of the Air Crash Victims’ Families’ Federation International (ACVFFI), delivered a presentation during the SkyTalks session at the Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS) 2025 in Abu Dhabi. This event, organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), provided a platform for Vera to address the critical need for implementing ICAO’s Victim and Family Assistance Policy.
In her presentation, Vera began by honoring the memory of the more than 300 victims of air tragedies in 2024, marking it as the deadliest year for aviation since 2018. She also expressed solidarity with the families affected by the two serious accidents in early 2025, which resulted in over 75 deaths. Vera emphasized the importance of empathy and preparedness in supporting these families, drawing from her personal experience with the tragic crash of Flight JK5022 in 2008.
Vera highlighted the ongoing efforts of ACVFFI to advocate for the incorporation of ICAO Doc 9998 into national regulations. This document, which outlines a comprehensive Victim Assistance Plan, has been endorsed by ICAO since 2013 but has seen minimal implementation across the 193 Member States. She stressed that the lack of follow-up is not due to a lack of interest but rather a deficiency in information and knowledge.
Throughout her speech, Vera underscored the importance of empathy, defining it as the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. She called for a collective effort to ensure that no state is left behind in providing dignified assistance to air crash victims and their families. Vera also shared the milestones achieved by ACVFFI, including the revision of ICAO Circular 285 and the support from various international organizations.
The presentation concluded with a call to action for states, airlines, and airports to incorporate ICAO’s Victim Assistance Policy into their emergency response plans. Vera urged the aviation sector to dedicate resources to support affected families, emphasizing that the implementation of these policies is a long-term investment that will provide peace of mind for professionals and alleviate the suffering of victims.
Watch the full presentation below to learn more about the vital work of ACVFFI and the ongoing efforts to improve support for air crash victims and their families.
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