In Haarlem, Netherlands, a poignant call for support and acknowledgment of the struggles faced by families of air accident victims was made by Kuniko Miyajima, a bereaved parent from Japan. Reflecting on her own heartbreaking experience of losing her 9-year-old son in the catastrophic 1985 Japan Airlines jumbo jet crash, Miyajima stressed the importance of ensuring families do not endure additional suffering while seeking closure and truth about their loved ones' fates.

The Symposium on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and their Families, organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), commenced this week, following a similar event held in 2021. Attendees included family members of crash victims from all over the world, as well as representatives from national authorities and airline operators, all united in the mission to enhance care and support systems for those affected by air tragedies.

Richard Ossendorp, representing the Netherlands at the ICAO, emphasized the need to listen to the voices of victims and their families, as their experiences will guide the improvement of support systems. Japan participated in this symposium for the first time, with speakers from both the government and Japan Airlines present to discuss their safety initiatives.

ICAO's commitment to strengthening family assistance in the aftermath of civil aircraft disasters has become more pronounced, with a 2022 resolution encouraging member states to create effective frameworks for supporting bereaved families. However, while ICAO aims to elevate the issue to a "standard," it lacks enforcement tools, leading to uncertainty about the implementation of these policies.

Miyajima's testimony underscored the need for timely communication and support for victims' families, pointing out that they deserve immediate information about their loved ones’ involvement in accidents and access to critical financial and psychological aid. She vividly recalled the painful memory of her son Ken’s last moments before boarding the tragic flight, highlighting the ongoing trauma and need for robust support systems.

She insisted that investigations must begin immediately after an accident to provide families with answers, as their primary concern is understanding how their loved ones were lost. The Japanese government's investigation into the 1985 crash attributed the tragedy to undetected repair faults, but families remained unsatisfied due to perceived inadequacies in the inquiry, particularly regarding Boeing's non-cooperation.

Miyajima also emphasized the importance of connecting bereaved families through support networks, sharing her experience leading an association founded shortly after the accident. Reflecting on the enduring nature of grief, she expressed hope and gratitude for the connections made at the symposium with other victims’ families around the globe, emphasizing that even after decades, the bonds formed through shared loss remain strong.