# Regulation (EU) No 996/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 on the investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents in civil aviation and repealing Directive 94/56/EC (Text with EEA relevance), Article 21: Assistance to the victims of air accidents and their relatives

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

1. In order to ensure a more comprehensive ... response to accidents the Secretary of State shall establish a civil aviation accident emergency plan at national level. Such an emergency plan shall also cover assistance to the victims of civil aviation accidents and their relatives.
2. The CAA shall ensure that all airlines established in the United Kingdom have a plan for the assistance to the victims of civil aviation accidents and their relatives. Those plans must take particular account of psychological support for victims of civil aviation accidents and their relatives and allow the airline to react to a major accident. The CAA shall audit the assistance plans of the airlines established in the United Kingdom. The Secretary of State shall also encourage airlines from other countries which operate in the United Kingdom to similarly adopt a plan for the assistance of victims of civil aviation accidents and their relatives.
3. When an accident occurs, the Secretary of State, shall provide for the appointment of a reference person as a point of contact and information for the victims and their relatives.
4. A ... a third country, which, by virtue of fatalities or serious injuries to its citizens, has a special interest in an accident which has occurred in the United Kingdom, shall be entitled to appoint an expert who shall have the right to:
(a) visit the scene of the accident;
(b) have access to the relevant factual information, which is approved for public release by the safety investigation authority in charge, and information on the progress of the investigation;
(c) receive a copy of the final report.
5. An expert appointed in accordance with paragraph 4 may assist, subject to applicable legislation in force, in the identification of the victims and attend meetings with the survivors of its State.
6. In accordance with Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No 785/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on insurance requirements for air carriers and aircraft operators, also third country air carriers shall fulfil the insurance obligations set out in that Regulation.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2010/996/article/21 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2010-996/article-21
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.