Aviation disasters are devastating, and the USA has seen its fair share of this type of incident. When an aviation crash or incident takes place, it almost always leads to fatalities. There have been at least five significant incidents in the history of US air travel, and Scarlett Law Group explores them in the guide below.
American Airlines Flight 587
When American Airlines Flight 587 crashed in 2001, the world was shocked. There were 265 fatalities including all of the passengers, nine crew members, and five civilians at the crash site. This plane set off like usual from JFK International and soon crashed straight into the neighborhood of Belle Harbor. Many people wondered if this was a concentrated terrorist incident, but this was heavily denied by official government parties. Instead, the cause was determined to be the fault of the first mate. There were stipulated aggressive tactics used to guide the plane which ultimately led to the separation of vital engines and caused the plane to plummet from the sky.
American Airlines Flight 191
This crash took place in 1979 and claimed the lives of 273 victims. The cause of this flight disaster was clear as one of the engines of the vehicle completely detached during takeoff. It left the airport at Chicago O’Hare but was soon crashing down to the ground in a serious way. The plane crashed into a field not far from the end of the runway as a direct result of the engine loss. The engine, when detached, caused severe damage to the wing of the plane which ultimately led to a loss of control and brought the plane down. The plane caught fire on impact and also caused the death of two non-passengers working in the field nearby.
Northwest Airlines Flight 255
In 1987, 156 people were killed in the Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crash catastrophe. The cause was determined to be a pilot error, and there was just one person who survived the horrific incident. The plane left Detroit airport but did not travel far before the fatal error occurred. The first mistake was made during takeoff, and the pilot did not manage to regain control of the plane before it unfortunately crashed in Michigan.
Pan Am Flight 759
This flight crashed into a densely populated suburb in New Orleans where it left 153 victims in its wake. The carrier was brought to the ground by a wind shear and never made it to its destination airport. The fatalities included passengers, crew, and non-flying civilians on the ground too.
TWA Flight 800
In 1996, the regularly scheduled TWA Flight 800 left JFK International Airport. The cause of the crash was determined as an exploded fuel tank which led the plane to crash into the Atlantic Ocean at a high speed, killing everyone on board and resulting in 230 deaths.
Top Reasons Why Airplane Crashes Occur
As we can see from the crash accounts above, there are common reasons that cause planes to crash. These events often bring a high number of fatalities, as because of the nature of flying, it is incredibly difficult to escape or survive a crash of this nature.
Pilot Error
It is often the case that the pilot in charge of the plane makes a mistake that leads to a crash taking place. Handling these vehicles takes a high level of skill and concentration, so much more in fact than driving a car. Commercial flights carrying lots of passengers are even more at risk of pilot error because they are often bigger with more complex internal mechanisms.
Parts Malfunctions
The next most common reason behind airplane crashes is when a part, typically the engine or fuel tank, malfunctions. Though rigorous checks take place prior to flying, things can get missed and random chance is definitely a factor at play as well. If the engine falls off or fails to work, then the entire flight path is at risk of failure too.
Weather Events
Sometimes, a weather event can be missed or poorly communicated. This means a plane up in the sky will be extremely vulnerable to its impact and could be caught in the crossfire. Things like hurricanes, big storms, and snow are common causes of plane crashes to this day.
Traffic Control Negligence
Air traffic control departments have extremely important jobs, but they are still human at the end of the day. This means, just like you and me, they are prone to having bad days at the office. The consequences of this could mean the difference between a safe flight and one that crashes.
What Happens Next?
If you, or someone you love, has been directly involved in a plane related incident then it is time to make an appointment with our attorneys. There are lots of things that must happen immediately after a crash including investigations and analysis procedures that are designed to uncover the underlying causes. While you are waiting for this information, we can certainly help you find a way forward.
What We Investigate
We will take a look at all of the facts, reports, and evidence from the case to determine who was liable and what the best course of action is as a result of this information.
Aviation disasters cause chaos whenever they take place. These incidents are so uncontrollable that the impact is devastating and widespread. The USA is no stranger to this kind of event, and as seen above, there have been plenty of times when loss of life has occurred as a direct consequence. For anyone who has been through something this traumatic, we are here to help.
If you or a loved one have been injured or lost a life in a plane incident, Scarlett Law Group has the expertise to help you find justice. It is only natural to need answers, and our team of attorneys can help you get where you need to be. Do not hesitate to make contact with our office as soon as possible.
You can find our office here, 536 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133.
Call now for a free consultation on (415) 352-6264.