Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed After Plane Crash Results In 8 Deaths
Wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against three companies involved in a plane crash that killed 8 passengers, 4 of whom were teenagers. The lawsuit states that professional negligence was to blame for the crash. The pilot failed to control the plane in low-visibility conditions. The teens and parents were returning from a hunting trip when the small passenger plane went down. The pilot and his adult son, who was a pilot in training, also died in the crash.
It is unclear specifically what happened, but the plane was contacted by air traffic control on multiple occasions for flying into restricted airspace. The pilot appeared to be having difficulty controlling the plane. On multiple occasions, the plane was contacted by authorities who informed the pilot that he had entered restricted airspace. The pilot at one point told air traffic control that he was trying to maneuver the plane out of restricted airspace, but subsequent attempts to contact the pilot went unanswered. The plane then dropped off of radar after crashing into the Atlantic Ocean.
Lastly, the pilot signaled no distress calls or gave any indication that the plane was in crisis. Air traffic control noted that the plane ascended rapidly before the crash. An attorney for the plaintiff believes that this is a hallmark of spatial disorientation.
Whose fault is it?
Three companies have been named in the lawsuit, which is not unsurprising. We do not know specifically what happened, but since the plaintiffs did not contribute liability to this matter, we know that someone else will likely pay. In this case, there are two potential avenues for litigation. The first involves the pilot.
The pilot’s flight path was erratic, and the plane ascended rapidly up in the air. We do not know if there was a mechanical failure with the plane or if the pilot just got disoriented. We do know that the pilot should have checked the plane prior to take-off to ensure that it was airworthy. We also know that if some problem were to become apparent, the pilot should have sent out a distress call that the air traffic control never received. So, even if the plane itself malfunctioned, the pilot and the company that the pilot works for is at least partly responsible for these deaths.
If there was an issue with the plane that caused it to fail, then a determination must be made as to whether or not the failure was foreseeable. If it was foreseeable, then the liability shifts back to the pilot and the company he worked for or a company that was contracted to perform maintenance on the plane. If the plane was manufactured with a defect, then the company that manufactured the plane is liable.
An investigation will determine who is primarily responsible for this crash. But as of now, signs point to pilot error.
Talk to a Tampa Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you’ve been injured due to the negligence of another party, call the Tampa personal injury lawyers at The Matassini Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your lawsuit in more detail.
Source:
wnct.com/local-news/crystal-coast/lawsuit-filed-over-plane-crash-that-killed-8-off-carteret-co-coast/
