In today’s social media-driven world, passenger incidents can quickly escalate into global crises, where legal decisions directly impact public perception and customer trust. This panel explores how airlines balance legal risk, transparency, and crisis communication, while highlighting the role of lawyers in managing real-time, high-pressure situations alongside PR and operations teams.
 
This session will discuss:

• liability and duty of care in passenger incidents - legal obligations of airlines/airports towards passenger safety and potential liability for physical harm and/or emotional distress;
• real time legal risk management and decision making - lawyers play a critical role during unfolding incidents by advising operations and PR teams on immediate actions that minimize legal exposure while ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks;
• defamation and privacy risks - how are these risks handled by airports and airlines when videos or personal information go viral; and
• regulatory compliance and government scrutiny - incidents often trigger investigations by aviation authorities. At such time, how do airlines/airports coordinate legal responses, preserve evidence and ensure adherence to national and international aviation regulations?