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A United Airlines flight that made an emergency landing after engine failure led to a fiery explosion allegedly caused the passengers’ emotional distress, according to a new class action lawsuit filed against the airline.
In the proposed class action lawsuit filed Sunday in the District of Colorado, plaintiff Chad Schnell said he was on United Airlines flight 328 from Denver to Honolulu on Feb. 20, when — four minutes after takeoff — he and other passengers heard loud noises and felt the plane start to shake violently.
He looked out the window to see pieces of the right engine of the plane “visibly missing.” Shortly after, it was on fire, forcing a mayday call from the cockpit and an emergency landing.
In the next 18 minutes, Schnell alleged he and other passengers feared for their lives “as a result of the shambled state of their airplane.”
The plane was able to land safely back at Denver International Airport with no serious physical injuries suffered by anyone on board.
However, Schnell said he and the other 230 passengers suffered emotional distress for the almost 20 minutes that they thought they might die, as well as nausea, tachycardia, shaking, symptoms of shock and, later, insomnia.
Schnell said he was filing the class action lawsuit to “recover for negligent infliction of emotional distress on behalf of himself and all other passengers on board who are similarly situated.”
Schnell is suing the airline under personal injury negligence torts and is seeking damages, interest, attorney’s fees and a trial by jury.
“As a result of United’s failure to properly inspect and maintain its aircraft, one of two engines on this plane spectacularly failed, scattering pieces of the engine over Colorado and leaving passengers to a horrifying view of a fire on the wing, massive turbulence, and an emergency landing predicated by a well-deserved mayday call from the cockpit,” the lawsuit stated.
Schnell said preliminary results from a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) inspection found an engine blade tore off due to metal fatigue, an issue airlines are able to check for. He alleged United had “good reason” to check planes for metal fatigue due to a similar incident on one of its planes of the same model in 2018.
“Both [planes] have been in service since 1995, upon information and belief making them and a few others owned by United the oldest 777-200 airplanes in commercial service in the world,” the class action lawsuit contended.
Schnell argued that, even though it turned out the passengers were not in a life-threatening situation, anyone in their position would reasonably believe their life was at risk.
Meanwhile, United Airlines is facing a raft of other class action lawsuits. In Illinois, the airline is facing claims it breached customer contracts when it offered credits instead of full flight refunds in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Late last year, United was hit with a lawsuit alleging its discount policies discriminate against older passengers in violation of California law.
In May of 2020, employees filed a class action lawsuit claiming the company forced them to take unpaid leave after accepting billions in federal payroll relief.
Have you experienced any issues while flying onboard United Airlines? Let us know the comment section below.
Schnell is represented by Jonathan Corbett of Corbett Rights.
The United Engine Fire Class Action Lawsuit is Chad Schnell et. al. v. United Airlines, Inc., Case No. 1:21-cv-00683, in the United States District Court District of Colorado.
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3 thoughts onUnited Airlines Sued After Passengers ‘Feared for Their Lives’ During Mid-Air Explosion, Engine Fire
Add me to the class action also I wouldn’t mine being the class leading man
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Add me please