Commercial aviation litigation

Every hour in the United States alone, over 61,000 people are airborne on commercial flights ─ families on vacation, business travelers, students traveling on school trips, grandparents visiting their children and family. The commercial airlines have a duty of care, a contractual agreement that is assumed when a passenger purchases a ticket. The airlines are required to provide the safest travel service.

During the investigative process of an accident, certain facts may emerge that show an air carrier or manufacturer failed to exercise that duty of care. This could be for a variety of factors ranging from improper maintenance to faulty design of the aircraft to inadequate crew training.

As the facts emerge, we develop our case and prepare for trial with the goals of fair compensation and holding the liable party accountable. Often a defendant will want to avoid negative publicity by settling a case before a trial begins. While we frequently represent a number of families and individuals in the same aviation disaster, every individual client, conferring closely with our attorneys, determines what the best course is in order to achieve their goals.

When cases proceed to trial, Nolan Law Group attorneys are prepared to prove fault with evidence, expert testimony and facts. We present the case to a jury to help them determine who was at fault and, if found guilty, the amount of compensation commensurate with the pain, suffering and loss endured by an individual or surviving family members.

AMERICAN CONNECTION FLIGHT 5966

On October 19, 2004, a Jetstream 32 airplane operated as American Connection Flight 5966 from St. Louis crashed on approach to landing at the Kirksville Regional Airport.  Eleven of the thirteen passengers and both pilots were fatally injured, while the remaining two passengers miraculously survived despite their serious injuries. Nolan Law Group is representing the families of three deceased passengers and one of the seriously injured survivors.  The lawsuits charge Corporate Airlines d/b/a American Connection and American Airlines with negligence and reckless conduct in the operation of the flight, the maintenance of the airplane, extended duty hours and training of the crew. 

AMERICAN EAGLE FLIGHT 5401

On May 9, 2004, an ATR 72 airplane was being operated by Executive Airlines under a service agreement with American Airlines as American Eagle Flight 5401 from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The sixty-eight seat airplane crashed during an attempted landing on Runway 8 at the San Juan International Airport, during which the landing gear collapsed and the airplane went off the side of the runway. Nolan Law Group represents four of the passengers who sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash. A lawsuit filed on behalf of the passengers charges, among other things, that the pilots lacked experience and training in the ATR airplane.

AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 587

On November 12, 2001, American Airlines Flight 587 crashed into a neighborhood in Belle Harbor, New York shortly after take off from John F. Kennedy International Airport destined for the Dominican Republic. The crash was the second worst aviation disaster in U.S. history, killing 260 on board and five people on the ground. Nolan Law Group represents a large number of families and is following the high-profile investigation amid reports from pilots about a history of problems with the rudder system of the accident aircraft, an Airbus A-300-600 and the use of composite materials in the structure of the plane.

UNITED EXPRESS FLIGHT 6798

On February 10, 2001, a Beechcraft 1900D operated by Great Lakes Aviation under an agreement with United Airlines crashed on landing at Chicago O’Hare Airport when the pilots neglected to lower the landing gear.  The failure occurred due to improper checklist procedure of the pilots coupled with inoperative warning systems resulting from the poor mechanical condition of the airplane.  Nolan Law Group represents 7 members of the Harlem Wizards basketball show team who were passengers injured in the accident.

FLASH AIRLINES FLIGHT 604

On January 3, 2004, a group of French tourists at the end of their holiday trip to an Egyptian resort boarded a 737 airplane bound for Paris. The plane, manufactured by Chicago-based Boeing, was operated by Flash Airlines under a lease from a California company.

After becoming airborne, the plane climbed to four thousand feet. The co-pilot then performed the routine task of engaging the autopilot. To his surprise and that of the pilot, the airplane began rolling over to the right. The crew immediately turned off the autopilot, but the plane continued rolling to the right. According to the head of the government crash investigation, the pilot responded calmly and appropriately to the emergency, but was unable to regain control of the airplane. The airplane crashed into the Red Sea killing all one hundred and forty-eight (148) people on board.

Having extensive experience in litigation arising from prior 737 crashes in 1991, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002 accounting for over 450 deaths, Nolan Law Group has been retained to represent several families of victims of this crash. While the official investigation is ongoing, early signs point to an autopilot induced control system malfunction.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

On September 11, 2001, terrorists compromised our aviation security system and hijacked four United States commercial airliners. Nolan Law Group represents many who lost loved ones in these terrorist acts, both on the planes and in the buildings. The firm is both managing claims for compensation through the Victim's Compensation Fund and representing those pursuing legal action against the airlines and other parties whose errors or omissions led to the hijackings.

Task 6. Translate the following words and phrases. Use them to translate the text:

International (domestic) airspace, for transport purposes, to require strict regulation, transit flight of aircraft, efficiency and protection, body of laws, technical directives ,flight track, according to the established procedure, compulsory to be complied with.

Важливість міжнародного повітряного простору, а також національного повітряного простору полягає в його інтенсивному використанні в транспортних цілях, що потребує точної регламентації такої діяльності як на національному, так і міжнародному рівні.

На міжнародному рівні необхідно було регламентувати регулярні, транзитні польоти повітряних суден, спільні міжнародні польоти з території однієї на територію іншої держави, із транзитом через територію третьої держави .

З цією метою у 1944 році в Чикаго була укладена Конвенція про міжнародну цивільну авіацію і створена універсальна міжнародна міжурядова організація — Міжнародної цивільної авіації (ІКАО).

Мета і завдання цієї організації — регламентація міжнародних польотів цивільних повітряних суден у міжнародному і національному повітряному просторах та забезпечення їхньої ефективності і безпеки.

Чиказька конвенція поклала початок формуванню нової галузі міжнародного права — міжнародного повітряного права — сукупності і системи норм, що регулюють діяльність міжнародної цивільної авіації.

У міжнародне повітряне право також входять різноманітні і численні настанови технічного характеру, що стосуються польотів повітряних суден і маршрутів таких польотів. Вони розробляються відповідно до передбаченої процедури, головним чином у рамках ІКАО, і стають обов'язковими для виконання.