Sources
IATA general conditions of carriage, article 16.4, on the death of a passenger the sum of $75,000 shall be paid. However, death is only the beginning as they say. Quote from Julian Bray, editor of the Lloyds list 'the average payment to the relatives of a person killed in an aircraft incident is $140,000.
The sum of theses two figures is considerably more than the payment made to a staff member who dies in the course of their duties based on a multiple of annual basic salary. This is especially important with low cost operations, as the basic salaries are often very low.
Another factor to consider, the crew may be determined to be jointly and severally liable for the loss, for many, once dead this is not much of a factor. However, the estate of the deceased could come under threat.