A passenger on the American Airlines flight that caught fire last month after diverting to Denver International Airport has filed a lawsuit against the airline.
Jerry Adamson, who was among the more than 170 passengers and six crew members who were forced to evacuate the Boeing 737-800 aircraft after it caught fire on March 13 following departure from Colorado Springs, filed the lawsuit in Denver District Court for negligence and misconduct, according to court documents.
“As a direct and proximate result of the negligent conduct of Defendants, Mr. Adamson has suffered, and will continue to suffer, injuries, damages and losses, including but not limited to past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish and emotional distress,” the lawsuit reads.
The plane took off from the Colorado Springs Airport at 4:52 p.m. on March 13 and was headed toward the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport before it was diverted to Denver after about 20 minutes in the sky. The lawsuit says the plane was flying “atypically slow for a Boeing 787-900.”
The airline and its staff failed to use reasonable care in the maintenance and operation of the aircraft, the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit claims the flight crew failed to properly follow emergency checklists and standard operating procedures, request timely emergency assistance, orderly evacuate the aircraft and move passengers away from the engine as it was burning.