Injuries from Airplane Manufacturing Defects or Maintenance Errors

Can passengers be injured due to airplane manufacturing defects or negligent maintenance errors? Yes. It could have happened in a recent incident. Conley Griggs Partin LLP in Atlanta, GA, is a uniquely qualified and experienced Aviation/Airplane Accident Lawsuits law firm that handles these rare but critical cases.

2024 Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Incident

On January 5, 2024, a “window plug” tore off the left side of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet passenger plane en route from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California. All 171 passengers and six crew members landed safely in an emergency landing. The FAA grounded all Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplanes the next day, pending safety checks.

The MAX 9 is the largest single-aisle aircraft produced by Boeing, and out of over 200 of these planes currently in use, 171 have this panel installed instead of an additional emergency exit door. When this plug blew off, a refrigerator-sized hole was left in the plane while it was at just over 16,000 feet.

On the following Monday, a Portland schoolteacher found the door plug in his backyard and contacted the FAA. Reports indicate that at least four bolts were missing on the plug. Another report claims that Alaska Airlines and United Airlines found loose hardware on several of their MAX 9 aircraft.

Aircraft Company/Airline Liability

Airlines and aircraft manufacturers have a duty of care to take every possible measure to ensure passenger and crew safety. When faulty design, poor maintenance or other errors endanger safety and cause accidents, passengers and other stakeholders have the right to file lawsuits against the responsible parties.

Determining liability can be a complex issue. Airplane Accident Attorneys must access information from official investigations and other sources to determine who was at fault. This can often be messy due to the many companies that may have some connection to an aircraft. These can include:

• Airline employees
• Airport employees
• Maintenance contractor employees
• Fueling contractor employees
• Baggage loaders
• Safety inspectors
• Ground crews

More than one company or other entity may share responsibility for the accident. Our network of the top experts in aviation at Conley Griggs Partin LLP allows us to quickly assemble a first-class team to investigate and prosecute an aviation case.

Atlanta Aviation Injury Lawyers

Aviation law is a complex combination of laws, treaties and court decisions. The outcome of airplane accident cases can vary significantly depending on various factors, such as individuals involved, the unique circumstances of the flight and the location of the crash site, among others. Aviation accidents often involve state, federal, and sometimes international law jurisdictions.

Therefore, it is crucial to seek the assistance of attorneys who have experience and specialized knowledge to lead the investigation into the cause of the crash and to help you obtain the maximum recovery allowed under the law.

If you or a loved one requires legal assistance, contact Conley Griggs Partin LLP today. The initial consultation is free of charge. If we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds.