Aircraft accidents
For passengers, crew and families affected by aviation incidents, from minor injuries to catastrophic losses.
What this covers — and what it doesn't
Aviation matters sit at the intersection of technical investigation and specialised law. The legal route depends on factors most claims never raise: the type of operation, the operator, where the incident happened, what caused it, and whether international carriage rules apply.
We represent clients affected by aircraft incidents and work with aviation and technical experts to understand cause and responsibility. Because jurisdiction, operator, cause, location and international elements can each change the legal route, these matters need careful early analysis rather than assumptions.
Official investigations serve safety, not compensation. A civil claim is a separate process, and pursuing one properly does not require interfering with — or waiting passively for — the official investigation.
- Injuries sustained during a commercial or charter flight
- Accidents involving private or light aircraft
- Ground injuries caused by aircraft operations
- Families of passengers or crew lost in an aviation accident
Examples only — never a conclusive legal test. Whether a claim exists always depends on the facts and evidence of the specific matter.
What to keep safe, starting now
- Keep tickets, boarding passes, booking confirmations and correspondence with the operator
- Record the flight, aircraft and operator details
- Keep all medical records from the earliest treatment onward
- Note the details of fellow passengers or witnesses where possible
- Do not sign releases or accept offers from operators or insurers before advice
Aviation claims can be governed by international conventions with strict, sometimes short, limitation periods that differ from ordinary claims. Take advice before assuming ordinary time limits apply.
Leshilo Attorneys Incorporated · 11 Rabe Street, Corner President Paul Kruger Street, Polokwane Central, Polokwane · 015 280 0070 · leshiloattorneys.com
The path to resolution
High-level stages — matters differ, experts may be involved, and honest uncertainty is part of proper advice.
Fees are agreed in writing before work starts — no verbal fee promises, here or anywhere. Depending on the matter, regulated contingency ("no win, no fee") arrangements may be available, subject to the legal caps and formalities. How fees work, in plain language.
Tell us what happened
The flight or operation involved, the date, and the harm suffered.
Route analysis
We determine which legal regime applies — domestic or international — and the applicable time limits.
Technical investigation
We work with aviation experts to understand cause, without interfering with official investigations.
Claim and resolution
Claims against the responsible operators, insurers or manufacturers, negotiated or litigated as the matter requires.
- Do international rules apply to my claim?
- If the incident involved international carriage, conventions with their own liability and time-limit rules may govern the claim. This is one of the first things we determine, because it changes everything that follows.
- Must the official investigation finish before I claim?
- No. Official investigations serve aviation safety and can take a long time. A civil claim is separate, and time limits keep running — so advice should not wait for the final report.
Answers last reviewed 15 July 2026 · Jurisdiction: South Africa · see the disclaimer.
Who works on these matters
The confidential next step.
Call during office hours, or open a confidential enquiry — it reaches only authorised staff, never a marketing tool.
Submitting an enquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship. We confirm receipt, review conflicts and suitability, and agree any engagement in writing.
This page is general information, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship exists until an engagement is agreed in writing. Outcomes depend on the facts, evidence and law of each matter, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Deadlines can be short — do not rely on this website to determine or preserve them.