BA 2276 Passengers Sue Airline For Emotional Trauma
Joe Cortez September 23, 2015
Passengers aboard British Airways Flight 2276, which caught fire moments before takeoff, are suing the airline for emotional trauma.
A group of flyers aboard British Airways Flight 2276 are seeking compensation for emotional trauma suffered when their Boeing 777-200 caught fire at Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport (LAS) earlier this month. British law firm Irwin Mitchell, claiming to advise 40 of the 157 passengers aboard the aircraft, say they are preparing for legal action on behalf of their clients affected by the incident.
In a statement released by the law firm, the passengers recount the ordeal that followed after the engine of BA 2276 caught fire. In their accounts, those aboard the aircraft claim they were immediately afraid they would be killed by the fire or in a subsequent explosion of the aircraft.
“Many people were screaming, with some then shouting about fire,” Steve Bingham, one of the flyers aboard the aircraft, said in the statement. “Then I saw thick black smoke from the windows on both sides of the aircraft, but the cabin crew were still telling us to stay seated at that point. Seconds later, the pilot ordered the evacuation.”
The British law firm advising BA 2276 passengers claims the flyers continue to suffer physiological problems weeks after the event. A representative for the law firm claims they are investigating who should be held liable for the incident.
In a statement, British Airways did not comment on the pending litigation, but did affirm support for the passengers.
“We have given every customer who was involved in the incident a dedicated colleague from our customer care team who is on hand to offer practical support and help,” said an airline representative.
[Photo: Steve Marcus/Reuters]
Of course the emotional damage whine is pure gold digging but I wonder if the crew waited disproportionally long before they prepared for an evacuation. I have however lots of sympathy for those who bring the hand luggage alone. The ancient international agreements compensate passengers with next to nothing for their belongings which might be have high business or or emotional value. Once off the plane you may never see your belonging again as none of the people permitted on board has any interest in them. You may loose important medication, documents etc etc. I'd be very tempted to ignore all instructions on that matter and bring one bag along, I have to admit. Especially if there was a delay between the plane coming to a halt and the evacuation being initiated.
I wonder how many of those doing the suing were also among the selfish p%$£*s taking their bags with them? Paint me narked. It's an aviation accident, to of course it's *&^%$£! emotional.
Very depressing, I hope the court sets a high bar for the proof of evidence given the number hanging around the aircraft taking photos I suspect that this is pure blige.
Gold Diggers.
I wonder how many of the passengers in this litigation endangered the lives of other passengers and crew by dragging their hand luggage from the lockers to the slides. Its BA that should be suing them.