Plane Crash: What Goes Up…

Tacoma, WAWe all know the end of that saying. Unfortunately, in the case of aviation, it seems that, with startling frequency, planes are not coming down the manner they were designed to. Rather, they are crashing down, taking with them innocent lives. Plane crashes are in the news far too often; however, many victims, their families and others affected by the accidents are holding those responsible for their plane crashes accountable.

The fatal plane crash of Cory Lidle, a former New York Yankees pitcher, has resulted in at least three lawsuits. The pitcher died when his plane crashed into a New York City apartment building. According to Bloomberg, a woman has filed a lawsuit alleging she suffered $254,000 in property damage in the plane crash. The plaintiff, Janice Carrignton, owned an apartment in the building Lidle's plane crashed into.

Earlier this year, a dentist filed a lawsuit against Lidle's estate, alleging his home was demolished in the plane crash. Lidle's widow filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the plane and its component parts, alleging defects in the plane caused the crash. However, the National Transportation Safety Board has determined that the plane crash was the result of "inadequate planning, judgment and airmanship."

Meanwhile, a US District Court has allowed a lawsuit against Presidential Airways Inc. to go ahead. The ruling came after Presidential tried to have the lawsuit dismissed. The plaintiffs alleged that Presidential Airlines violated safety regulations, which resulted in a plane crash that killed three soldiers in Afghanistan. Presidential Airlines argued that it was doing military work and should be entitled to sovereign immunity, a claim the court rejected.

Lawsuits are now being filed against TACA International Airlines for injuries incurred during the May 30, 2008 TACA plane crash in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The lawsuit alleges that the crash occurred when the pilot tried to land on a short and wet runway at Toncontin airport. The plane skidded off the runway and into a ravine. Five people were killed in the crash and many others were injured.

The potential for plane crashes in the US may not be much better than the potential oversees, despite what many people think. Although it has been a few years since there was a major airline accident in the US, some people believe that it is only a matter of time. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal a major concern of the National Transportation Safety Board is the potential for runway collisions. The report notes that the number of runway incursions (close calls between taxiing aircraft and aircraft that is taking off or landing) increased during the late 1990s and then jumped 25 percent in a year.

Although steps have been taken to reduce the number of runway incursions, the rate jumped again between 2006 and 2007, indicating that even planes with all wheels on the ground are not necessarily safe from a serious accident.

If you or someone you love was harmed in a plane crash, contact a lawyer to discuss your legal options.