We need to distinguish between the responsibility vis-à-vis the passenger and the ability of the airline to seek compensation from third parties. In the European Union, they thought about this. That's why you have article 13 of the European regulations, which makes it clear that the airline's obligation to passengers does not derogate in any way from the airline's ability to go after those third parties.
These types of excuses are something that the two large corporations, the airline and maybe the subcontractor, should resolve between themselves in commercial litigation. It isn't a consumer matter. So—