CRI听力:Families of Taiwan Air Crash Reject Compensation Offer

Families of the victims of last week's dramatic plane crash in Taipei have rejected compensation offer put forward by TransAsia Airlines.

The airline and the families met for around 3-hours on Wednesday to discuss the compensation.

Liu Zhongji is a representative of TransAsia Airways.

"We offered 13.5 million New Taiwan dollars to each victim's family. There is also another 1.2 million New Taiwan dollars being offered as a funeral allowance, on top of an additional 200-thousand New Taiwan dollar condolence payment. All together, the compensation we've offered is 14.9 million New Taiwan dollars. This is around 3 million yuan."

TransAsia made similar payouts to the families of passengers killed in another crash off the coast of Taiwan in July.

Despite the rejection of the offer, Liu Zhongji says the company is going to remain in-contact with the families.

"Apart from the destination of our direct routes to the mainland, we are also willing to send our people to the victims' hometown to offer help to their families. We're also going to help them get lawyers so that their rights can be fully guaranteed."

42 people were killed in the crash.

Initial indications are the plane lost power in one of its engines shortly after takeoff, clipping a bridge with its wing before coming down in the Keelong River.

Fifteen onboard did manage to survive.

The body of one of the passengers is still missing.

Meanwhile, 29 pilots from Transasia Airlines have been suspended for failing or missing safety tests.

The local aviation regulator in Taiwan ordered the tests after the crash.