The deadline for filing civil suits expires Thursday, two years after the tragedy in which flight SQ 006 crashed on take off, killing 83 of the 179 passengers and crew on board.

Singapore aviation lawyer Rajaram Ramiah told the Straits Times that he has been instructed by four US law firms to file 21 civil suits against the carrier.

At least one other Singapore law firm is filing suits against the airline, while Chicago-based Nolan Law Group said on its website that it is representing 45 survivors and families of victims.

Nolan's director of litigation support, Thomas Ellis, told the Straits Times there are about 100 suits in total against the airline, aircraft manufacturer Boeing and other parties involved in the crash.

The plaintiffs have rejected Singapore Airline's offer of US$400,000 for those who died and $20,000 for survivors as "insufficient", Ramiah said.

"Not all of those filing here are Singaporeans. Some are Americans or other nationals who couldn't file in the US because they either reside here or bought their tickets here."

A group of Singapore Airlines insurers have also reserved the right to sue Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek airport for the crash.

An official Taiwan investigation into the crash blamed the three pilots for mistakenly lining up on a closed runway.

However, Singapore authorities concluded that airport deficiencies, including inadequate taxiway lights and physical barriers led to the pilot error.

During take off on a stormy night, the pilots turned into a runway that was closed for repairs, and their Boeing 747-400 exploded when it ploughed into construction equipment.

Singapore Airlines has not disputed that the aircraft was on the wrong runway, but has said the pilots were misled by deficiencies at the airport.

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