Aviation Injury Matters

Although rare, aviation injuries can occur due to improper aircraft maintenance, errors in design and manufacturing, and/or negligent behavior of a pilot. In 2021, when Kobe Bryant and his daughter were involved in a fatal helicopter crash, national focus began to shift to investigating and understanding the inherent dangers of flight.

Examples of Recent Incidents

• On January 2, 2024, a Japan Airlines Flight collided with a Coast Guard plane during landing. The crash was fatal to all six Coast Guard passengers.

• On January 5, 2024, the emergency door malfunction on the Boeing Alaskan Airlines flight took national headlines by storm and brought more attention from regulatory agencies on the safety of the aircraft that we provide for passengers. In the Boeing case, the door plug loosened, resulting in the door completely detaching from the plane. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the plane was able to safely land. Boeing has claimed that they are unable to identify the individual who performed safety checks and has not provided any key documentation. This is a classic example of a manufacturer making attempts to conceal their negligence.

• On January 8, 2024, a humanitarian aid flight in Somalia ran off of the runway, colliding with a house. One passenger was killed.

• On January 23, 2024, mine workers flying through Canada crashed shortly after taking off and killed six of seven passengers.

• On February 9, 2024, a small aircraft suffered engine failure and violently crashed into Interstate 75 near Naples, Florida. Three passengers were able to escape the fiery crash; however, both pilots did not survive.

• On February 18, 2024, a plane in Belgrade collided with the landing lights, resulting in a massive hole in the fuselage. They flew for a full hour before making an emergency landing. Again, fortunately no one was injured in this incident.

• On March 5, 2024, in Nairobi two small aircraft crashed into each other. One of the planes was able to land successfully; however, the other crashed, killing both occupants.

• On March 11, 2024, 50 people were injured on a flight from Sydney, Australia due to an “in-flight upset”.

• On March 31, 2024, a flight from Juba Airport misgauged the landing strip and crashed into another place. One out of seven crew members was injured. 

You may notice a trend in the list above. All of these aircraft crashes occurred within the first three months of 2024. The past history of plane crashed is much more extensive than many would believe. We are told that air travel is the safest mode, but we are finding in today’s society, that is not necessarily the case.

We should be concerned about things such as pilot sobriety, training, careless equipment checks before takeoff, and manufacturer negligence leading to aircraft failure. Unfortunately, most of these failures are out of the hands of passengers and in the event you or a loved one or injured or killed in an aviation accident, please give us a call to discuss your case and to receive the most compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact us at 800-525-NEUMANN or via our online form for a free consultation with an aircraft injury attorney.