China Eastern Airlines MD-II Near Aleutian Island, USA
Flight crew accidentally deployed the leading edge slats causing aircraft to porpoise violently. Passengers not wearing seat belts were thrown about the cabin. Two of 248 passengers were killed, while many others sustained serious injuries, including a flight attendant who was rendered comatose. Lead Counsel
DeHavilland DH6 Perris, CA
The twin otter, carrying 16 U.S. and Dutch skydivers, crashed after take-off. Six people were injured, one of the nation’s worst air tragedies involving sport parachutists. The aircraft had lost power due to fuel contamination.
USAir 737 Los Angeles, CA
Aircraft was cleared to land on runway already occupied by Sky West Metro III awaiting take-off.
The two aircraft collided and burst into flames. Two of six crew members and 20 of 83 passengers on the USAir jet were killed. All 10 passengers and two crew members of the Metro III were killed. Lead Counsel
United Airlines 747 Outbound from Hawaii
Forward cargo door blew out as aircraft was climbing. Part of the fuselage and interior cabin also left the aircraft. Nine of the 336 passengers were killed. Plaintiffs Steering Committee
United Airlines DC-10 Sioux City, IA
Number two engine had an uncontained failure while at altitude which led to a loss of all three hydraulic systems. The crew was able to fly the crippled aircraft to crash landing at Sioux City Airport. 110 passengers and one crew member of 296 occupants died.
Delta Air 747 Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, TX
Aircraft stalled and crashed on take-off due to flight crew’s failure to properly set flaps.
Continental Airlines DC-9 Denver, CO
Aircraft crashed shortly after take-off in icing conditions. 27 of 77 passengers and three of five crew members were killed. Lead Counsel
Northwest Md-82 Detroit, MI
Flight crew neglected to properly set flaps for take-off. The aircraft stalled after rotation and crashed onto a highway. All six crew and 146 of 147 passengers were killed.
PSA BAe146 Near San Luis Obispo, CA
Former USAir employee boarded aircraft with a gun and shot both of the pilots. The 5 crew members and 37 other passengers were killed. Plaintiffs Steering Committee
TWA 727 Athens, Greece
A terrorist bomb exploded, rupturing the fuselage as the aircraft was on approach to Athens Airport. Four of the passengers were lost through the hole in the fuse and killed. Lead Counsel
Pan Am 747 Karachi, Pakistan
Aircraft hijacked on the ground in Karachi by Abu-Nidal members. After 16 hours, the auxiliary power unit failed, plunging the interior into darkness. Terrorist then sprayed cabin with machine gun fire and threw hand grenades, killing several people and wounding others. Many more were injured in the evacuation. Pan Am was shown to have been guilty on willful misconduct and failing to provide adequate security. Plaintiffs Steering Committee
Aero Mexico DC-9 Cerritos, CA
Aircraft collided with single-engine Piper Archer in controlled airspace. All six crew members and 58 passengers of DC-9 were killed. Three occupants of the Piper and 18 people on the ground also died. Lead Trial Counsel
Cessna C177B Fullerton Airport, CA
KFI pilot and traffic reporter, Bruce Wayne, was killed when engine failed on take-off from Fullerton Airport due to fuel contamination.
TWA 727 Athens, Greece
Aircraft hijacked by terrorists, with crew and passengers held hostage for several days. The terrorists shot a member of the United States military. Lead Counsel
British Airways 737 Manchester Airport, England
Crew aborted take-off due to uncontained engine failure which led to a punctured fuel tank and fire in the cabin. 53 of 131 passengers, along with two of six crew members, succumbed to the fire.
DC-3 DeKalb, Texas
Singer Ricky Nelson’s recently acquired aircraft was subjected to an in-flight fire due to faulty heater. The aircraft made an emergency landing in an open field. All passengers died from the fire. Lead Counsel
Arrow Air DC-8 Gander, Newfoundland
Aircraft crashed on take-off following a flight from Middle East to the United States, killing all of the 248 servicemen from the Army’s 101st Airborne Division on board. Lead Counsel
Delta Air L I 0 I I Dallas, TX
Aircraft crashed shortly before landing after encountering wind shear. Eight of 11 crew members and 128 of 152 passengers were killed. One person on the ground was also killed.
Wing West Beech C99 San Luis Obispo, CA
In-flight collision with a Rockwell Commander killing 17. Plaintiffs Steering Committee
Air Florida 737 Washington, D.C.
Aircraft stalled and crashed into the Potomac River as result of icing conditions. The crew failed to activate heaters and did not adjust engines to allow for sufficient thrust. 70 of 74 passengers died along with four of five crew members.
Western Airlines DC-10 Mexico City, Mexico
Crew inadvertently landed on closed runway adjacent to active runway. Aircraft struck a large vehicle killing 63 of 77 passengers and nine of 11 crew members.
Air New Zealand DC-10 Mt. Erebus, Antarctica
Aircraft was on sightseeing flight from New Zealand to Antarctica. As a result of improper charts and navigational error, the crew flew into the mountain in instrument meteorological conditions. All 237 passengers and 20 crew were killed. Air New Zealand admitted the willful misconduct of its crew. Lead Counsel