While aviation remains one of the safest forms of transport,
passengers may nonetheless suffer injuries during flight. The
applicable legal regime for such incidents is primarily the
Montreal Convention of 1999, which harmonises carrier liability
rules internationally. The Convention constitutes part of Cyprus
domestic law since its ratification through the Law on the
Ratification of the Montreal Convention for the Unification of
Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air of 2002, Law
3(III)/2002. In addition, EU Regulations ensure uniform application
across all Member States
Definition and Scope of 'Accident':
Article 17 of the Montreal Convention establishes liability for
death or bodily injury if caused by an "accident" during
the flight, embarkation, or disembarkation. Courts, including in
Air France v Saks [1985] 470 US 399, define
"accident" as an unexpected, unusual, and external
event.
