On the subject of 'damages' in airplane situations, it is very rare for a plaintiff to be awarded punitive damages. The airlines have successfully argued, in several cases, against punitive awards. That is why wrongful death awards in plane crashes are in the range $1M to $5m, while tobacco cases are much higher. Note also that 'sovereign' airlines, i.e those owned by a government, are specifically protected under US law from punitive damages, no matter how egregious their actions.