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Asiana crash victims: "We didn't get any help" from airline

Asiana crash survivors fight back against airline 02:53

(CBS News) More than a week after the Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash, the Xu family from China is still recovering some 6,000 miles from home.

The crash left their four-year-old son with a badly broken leg and Xu Wen Jung's sister has a broken foot. As flames erupted, her sister was trapped in the wreckage by a jammed seat belt.

"My sister told my brother-in-law that you can go first. We have a daughter to take care of," said Xu. "My brother-in-law said, 'I will stay with you if you die.'"

A firefighter cut away the seatbelt to save her. Now the entire family is part of a group of 83 passengers preparing to sue Boeing. They are planning a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, focusing on possible mechanical problems with the engine controls, emergency slides and seat belts.

The family was completely dependent on Asiana Airlines in the days following the accident. They had no money, no clothes and no identification papers.

"We didn't get any help except the 400 (dollars) emergency fee from their side," said Xu.

Group of Asiana passengers to sue Boeing

They were told the $400 was for basics, like food and clothing, but the family also needed new glasses and said Asiana refused to cover the entire cost.

Asiana put the survivors up at a hotel, but according to the Xu's, the airline controlled nearly every aspect of their lives and told them not to speak with the media.

The Xu family can't return home because their son needs on-going medical care. They invited CBS News' Carter Evans into their hotel to show him how they're living, but hotel staff would not immediately let the journalist upstairs.

Although airline security called the police, he was eventually allowed upstairs and shot a video of the small space on his iPhone.

Shortly after the interview, the airline moved the Xu family into an apartment.

Officials with Asiana turned down a request for an interview, but in a statement said they are doing everything they can to provide the remaining passengers with "medical, lodging, meal, translation and transportation services."

For Carter Evan's full report, watch the video in the player above.

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