Crouse Law Offices. International ⁄ National ⁄ Local Accident Litigators

Delta Air Line Jet And Fuel Truck Collide On Runway

CNN reports a fuel truck crashed into a Delta Air Line MD-88 at New York’s LaGuardia airport Sunday afternoon with about 106 passengers and 5 crew members were on board.  Fortunately, no one was injured in the mishap – the plane was not moving at the time.

The fuel truck driver was treated at the hospital for a cut on the head. Flight 2979 was on the tarmac preparing for a flight to Ft. Lauderdale but had to be because one of the jet’s wings was damage in the collision.

Until the investigation is complete, authorities are not releasing how fast the fuel truck was traveling when it hit the aircraft.

Another Abuse Of Our Youngest Travelers: Sky West/United Airlines Denied Mother Use Of Protective Car Seat

A California mother was almost in tears when she was given the ultimatum from Sky West flight attendant to take her baby out of the car seat and hold her during takeoff or get off the plane.  She feared for her child’s safety and claims her daughter’s safety rights were violated.

The 11-month-old is already a seasoned traveler with trips including the Caribbean and Hawaii and has always been safely buckled up in her FAA approved Graco car seat.  The FAA recommends children under 20 pounds – like this 11-month old girl – be in a rear facing car seat.  The flight attendant insisted the child should be facing forward.

In my article, Protecting Our Youngest Travelers on the Crouse Law Office sponsored Aviation Safety Blog–dedicated to safety in all areas of aviation–I point out the FAA’s website states the safest place for children during turbulence or an emergency is in a CRS (child restraint system) – NOT ON YOUR LAP.

The mother wants flight crews to have better training when it comes to kids and car seats, stating, “I think it’s each passenger’s right to be able to be safe regardless of their age.”

I couldn’t agree more.  Everybody needs to get together on this one to protect those who can’t protect themselves.  What’s stopping the Federal Aviation Administration, the airlines, and the seat manufacturers from making this situation right?  Why are we in this current mess, which only means frustration and possible tragedy?

United Flight Sends 25 to Hospital

United Flight 967 was en route to Los Angles when it encountered strong enough turbulence over Kansas to injure at least 25 people on board.  The flight had taken off from Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D. C. 

There were 255 passengers and 10 crew members on board the twin-engine Boeing 777.  The plane immediately diverted to Denver to get medical help for the injured.  A spokesperson for United stated she knew of 25 people taken to the hospital but did not know how seriously they were hurt. 

However, a spokesman for the Denver Fire Department said about 30 people were injured, one of them seriously.

Crouse Law Offices has the necessary experience and knowledge to handle your airline safety concerns. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an airline accident , please call us at 919-861-0500 or contact us by using our online form.

Airline Injures

Cockpit Fire Forces United Airlines Plane To Make Emergency Landing

United Airlines Flight 27 from New York to Los Angeles made an emergency landing at Virginia’s Dulles International on Sunday due to a fire in the cockpit.  The fire was extinguished prior to landing and no injuries were reported. 

For a long time, the Boeing 757 has had known problems with the heating system in a cockpit window and investigators are looking into whether this was a factor in the fire.

 One of the passengers, sitting in the second row, stated she smelled smoke about 30 minutes into the flight and then the cockpit door opened and the captain requested a fire extinguisher.  The first cabin filled with smoke.

After landing at Dulles, the passengers remained seated until a firefighter came on board to open the cockpit door.  Once the door was open, the passengers were able to see the windshield was completely cracked and shattered.

 The NTSB is investigating to determine it this incident was due to a recurring problem involved in previous 757 cockpit fires, or a new issue.  In 2007, the NTSB recommended to the FAA that airlines be required to replace the heat terminal block on all Boeing 747s, 757s, 767s, and 777s. 

In March of 2008, the FAA proposed a rule that gave airlines a choice of regularly inspecting the heat terminal blocks or replacing then – the Boeing 747 was not included in the FAA proposed order.  The airlines strongly opposed the order and it hasn’t been made final even though the FAA said in 2008 it was aware of nine incidents of electrical arcing at the terminal blocks and “more than one incident” of open flames.

All planes made since 2005 have used a different wiring system which Boeing is confident has solved the problem.

Crouse Law Offices has the necessary experience and knowledge to handle your airline safety concerns. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an airline accident , please call us at 919-861-0500 or contact us by using our online form.

United Airline Cockpit Fire