Recent Airline Accidents Prove Air Safety Risks Continue to Exist
There have been three high profile plane crashes in as many months and it is clear the aviation industry continues to be troubled by safety issues.
The Continental Airlines accident in Denver, Colorado and the crash landing of a U.S. Airways jet liner in the Hudson River last month were luckily resolved with no fatalities; the Denver accident, however, did lead to several injuries. Last week's crash of Continental Airlines Flight 3407 in a Buffalo neighborhood resulted in the deaths of all 49 people on board and one person in the house the plane crashed into. These crashes have brought to light the number of risks air commuters continue to face, despite the fact that there have been dramatic improvements in aviation safety in recent years.
All three crashes are being linked to factors the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been warning authorities about for years. For instance, the role of flocks of birds causing engine failure, the factor cited as the reason for the U.S. Airways Hudson River crash-landing, has been known for years. Fortunately, the pilot successfully executed a landing on water with no serious injuries or fatalities. Investigators are currently trying to determine if current safety measures to protect against the impact of birds on engines are sufficient.
Ice formation on a plane, especially on the wings, is another known factor that can contribute to plane instability and crashes. Such ice accumulation has been linked to several accidents in the past and is being looked at as a potential cause of the Buffalo plane crash last week. Investigations have found that many pilots are still not able to handle de-icing procedures adequately. The NTSB made airline safety recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about improvements in de-icing systems, but these suggestions have not been acted upon. The NTSB, which has no regulatory powers, urged the FAA in 1996 to develop more stringent standards for icing certifications for aircraft. While the FAA responded by mandating that new aircraft be tested for icing conditions, it has not made any such enhanced testing requirements for older aircraft. In fact, the NTSB has more recently made several related recommendations that the FAA has chosen to ignore.
Commercial Airline Accident Help
Our team has assisted many families in getting help physically, emotionally and financially after a life-altering accident. If you have legal questions regarding injuries or death due to an aviation accident, our team at Arnold & Itkin LLP can get you the help and answers you need.
