A Week of Deadly Plane Crashes

Fremont, OHThe news has been full of deadly plane crashes this past week. From Ohio to Sudan to Kenya, there have been reports of tragedy. While some involved small planes with fewer than 10 passengers, other crashes involved planes with 200 or more passengers on board. People injured in plane crashes, and the family members of those who have died, are filing lawsuits against the people and organizations deemed responsible for the accidents.

In Sudan, a plane carrying approximately 210 people skidded off the runway during a thunderstorm and caught fire, killing at least 29 passengers and one flight attendant. An investigation into the crash has already begun, although Sudan reportedly has a poor safety record when it comes to aviation. A plane crash in May 2008 killed 24 people, including members of Sudan's government. There are different interpretations of what caused this most recent Sudanese plane crash. Some officials blame bad weather while others say that the plane landed safely but crashed when an engine blew up.

Meanwhile, two Kenyan officials were killed when their plane crashed in Narok, Kenya, approximately one hour after it took off. Two other people were also killed in the crash. According to reports, the plane was flying despite poor visibility and hit trees and a house before crashing. Critics of Kenya's aviation safety record now argue that regulatory bodies have not kept up with growth in the industry, leading to an "unacceptably high accident rate."

In Ohio, funerals began for the six people who died in a plane crash last weekend. The crash took the life of a former state representative who offered rides in his plane to visitors at a charity breakfast. A US federal judge has ruled that the families of those killed aboard a plane crash in Kentucky can seek punitive damages in their lawsuit. Forty-nine people died in the crash, which occurred when pilots tried to take off from the wrong runway. The judge further ruled that Comair, the company operating the plane, could be held responsible for its pilots' gross negligence. Comair had argued that, although its pilots did make a mistake, the company should not be held responsible.

In a different matter, the family of a flight student who died in a two-plane collision above the Everglades has filed a lawsuit against Kemper Aviation flight school. The family is also considering a suit against the Federal Aviation Administration. The suit against the flight school alleges it was negligent in the crash because pilot training and plane maintenance contributed to the accident. The family also alleges that the FAA either knew or should have known about Kemper Aviation's poor safety record.

The plane crashes are all a reminder that, no matter how safe something is deemed to be, anything can happen. Sadly, when that involves a plane crash, the outcome is usually tragic.

If you or a loved one was harmed in a plane crash, either in the US or internationally, contact a lawyer to discuss your legal options.