United claims Goose strike, Passenger sues because 'they're lying.'
#61
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#62
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Cracked windshield panes are not uncommon. I've had three in my career--all on Douglas airplanes (DC8, DC9). The windows have multiple panes and are designed to remain structurally sound when damaged. The Douglas airplanes had smaller window and you could continue to fly with a cracked pane (with some limitations).
I'm aware of only one instance when an airliner windshield pane failed completely. It was a British Airways BAC-111 in 1990 and was caused by the wrong bolts being used to installed the windshield. The entire window (in front of the Captain) departed the airplane in flight. The Captain was injured but returned to work five months after the incident.
I'm aware of only one instance when an airliner windshield pane failed completely. It was a British Airways BAC-111 in 1990 and was caused by the wrong bolts being used to installed the windshield. The entire window (in front of the Captain) departed the airplane in flight. The Captain was injured but returned to work five months after the incident.
#63
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Don't lawyers consult experts regarding the basic facts that they're alleging before filing a lawsuit?
#64
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Maybe the snowflake plaintiff gets sucked into a toilet and can claim emotional distress, blaming American Standard. Actually I hope he walks into a pole while texting and sues Apple for allowing him to be distracted.
UA isn't perfect, nobody is, but I've never met a pilot that would invent something in some grand coverup.
UA isn't perfect, nobody is, but I've never met a pilot that would invent something in some grand coverup.
That applies ANY TIME in recent years.
#65
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From the suit, #4 of the summary of allegations is my personal favorite.
“Courageously, Flight 931’s co-pilot quickly pushed his weight against what was left of the third and last layer of the cockpit window, which may have prevented the entire window from breaking during the descent to Goose Bay. Had that last layer disappeared, both pilots would have likely been sucked out of the plane and Flight 931’s passengers would have been doomed.”
So from a seated, sealtbelted position the co-pilot was able to apply enough pressure from the inside of the window to counteract the force of a 500 mph wind vector from a B767 airplane in cruise to keep the remaining cockpit window in place?
Additionally, the window in question is on the left side of the aircraft. So this co-pilot courageously did this from the right seat of the plane? Or perhaps this heroic action was done while sitting on the Captain’s lap while he was at the controls also in the left seat (that must have been really awkward!)
The complaint mentions the plaintiff missing a flight from London to Zanzibar. I am not quite understanding the following allegation which I highlighted in bold"Incidentally, because Plaintiff heeded United’s direction to board his flight without a return ticket, when he arrived in Zanzibar, he was detained by the police there and interrogated for approximately one hour(with, bizarrely, the Zanzibar police officer opening Plaintiff’s luggage and wearing his clothes stored inside)."
Immigration tried on his clothes?
Immigration tried on his clothes?
This reads like the screenplay for a new Airplane movie!
I can just picture Roger Murdock sitting in Captain Clarence’s lap. Of course the inflatable auto pilot would be flying the plane.
#66
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This kind of thing seems like a precursor to make United rethink its recent move to “more accurate” and honest descriptions of flight delays we now see on flight status updates. I predict a return to generic labels in the future if there is any risk of liability from what may be reported.
#68
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I was joking with my comments earlier, but I can understand why some pilots turn off ch 9 now or not communicate anything. This lawsuit driven society we have is pathetic and embarrassing. I say that with a wife in the industry, albeit in criminal law.
Over the 40+ years that I have been flying on UA, I've had one emergency landing, a few go arounds, and maybe 20 or so nasty FA's. Not once, ever, did lawsuit enter my mind. UA is fully qualified to fly family any day of the week and twice on Sunday, and if by chance we get stuck in Goose Bay for a day, we will still fly with UA next week. I trust them.
Over the 40+ years that I have been flying on UA, I've had one emergency landing, a few go arounds, and maybe 20 or so nasty FA's. Not once, ever, did lawsuit enter my mind. UA is fully qualified to fly family any day of the week and twice on Sunday, and if by chance we get stuck in Goose Bay for a day, we will still fly with UA next week. I trust them.
#69
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Sadly, this. One 100% certainty out of this lawsuit is we now have 2 less pilots who elect to turn on Ch9.
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#73
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#74
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Remember, lawsuits are not always about winning...they are more often about settling. If United's legal team decides that there is any chance of losing, or that the costs of a defense are going to run high, they will throw money at it to make it go away and cut their losses.
#75
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... It was a British Airways BAC-111 in 1990 and was caused by the wrong bolts being used to installed the windshield. The entire window (in front of the Captain) departed the airplane in flight. The Captain was injured but returned to work five months after the incident.