Donations pour in as Volga-Dnepr pays last respects to air crew
03 / 12 / 2015
On November 30, a civil funeral service was held in Ulyanovsk to remember the six Volga-Dnepr Airlines’ employees who were among 19 people killed during the terrorist attack at the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, the capital of Mali in western Africa, on November 20.
“The ceremony was attended by thousands of people, and the local civic hall could not even fit all those wishing to pay tribute to the dead and express condolences to their families and close ones,” the airline said.
The airline established a crisis centre immediately after becoming aware of the tragedy in Mali and covered all costs associated with bringing the bodies back to Russia and funeral services, with the families of the victims each receiving an insurance compensation of R2m.
The crewmembers who survived the tragedy have been provided with paid leave and psychological help.
Meanwhile, employees, partners and customers around the world have set up funds to aid the families of the victims.
Funds raised have already reached R10m and in addition, the Governor of the Ulyanovsk Region Sergey Morozov also ordered to pay R1m to each of the families.
Volga-Dnepr has opened several special purpose accounts, which can be used to transfer funds by all willing to help.
Alternatively, crowdfunding pages launched by Volga-Dnepr’s Stansted and Houston offices, as well as wallets opened on the personal initiative by some company employees are also legitimate, and all funds raised through them will be transferred to the families of our lost colleagues.