Man Sues After Hard Landing on Southwest Plane

Dr. Kenneth Kochman recently filed a lawsuit after sustaining significant injuries when the Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 he was riding in experienced a nose-first hard landing on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on July 22, 2013. The botched landing caused the airplane’s landing gear to collide with the passenger compartment.

The lawsuit was bolstered by the fact that the National Transportation Safety Board recently determined the crash was likely caused by pilot error.

According to the NTSB, the pilot was guilty of failing to comply with standard operating procedures when it comes to landing. Instead of taking control of the airplane away from the first officer in plenty of time to conduct the landing, the pilot failed to assume control until the aircraft was 27 feet above ground. This failure restricted both the pilot and the first officer’s ability to effectively monitor the airplane’s approach.

While airplane accidents tend to be rare when compared to car accidents, the potential injuries that these types of accidents can cause are potentially much more significant. If you have suffered any harm as a result of an airplane accident, contact the legal team of Wilson & McQueen, PLLC today by calling our Kentucky offices to learn how we may be able to help you.