Several passengers have reportedly already lawyered up in a case related to a recent United Airlines’ Hawaii-bound flight incident. Those onboard allege they were traumatized by the “Fiery loss of engine” that occurred and which we wrote about back on February 20. At the time, we said that there had been prior “Incidents on Hawaii Flights preceded near catastrophe.”
The Clifford Law Offices based in Chicago is representing the plaintiffs. The nearly 40-year-old firm said that they are “Known nationally for our success in complicated legal matters,” including those related to aviation. Clifford also represents 72 families in the 737 Max crash on March 10, 2019, in Ethiopia that killed all 157 passengers. “Passengers have retained Clifford Law Offices after suffering severe post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from a United Airlines flight that experienced a fiery engine loss while traveling from Denver to Hawaii on February 20, according to law firm.”
In the February incident, UA Flight 328 was just minutes into flight en route to Hawaii when the engine explosion occurred, resulting in the right engine being engulfed in fire. The plane successfully returned to Denver, and thankfully the passengers lived through the experience that included an engine explosion, subsequent fire, and what appeared to be a missing engine. The plane was in the air less than 30 minutes in total that day and landed safely.
Clifford said, “The passengers on this flight thought it was going to be their last… Imagine as a passenger looking out the window of a plane and helplessly watching the engine on fire. The terror you experience lasts a lifetime.”
It will take significant time before the government’s NTSB investigation of the Hawaii flight incident is concluded.
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If I had been on that plane I probably would have instantly died of a heart attack. At the very least, I would have been forever traumatized. It’s hard enough just to get me on a plane and my dad was an engineer for Lockheed. He help design the planes, but even knowing how they fly and why they fly, I still get freaked out. However, I am not a litigious person, therefore I can’t say I would sue the airline. But, there is a part of me that understands why some would. I wasn’t on that flight… thank God, so I can’t speak for what that experience must have been like. I would imagine pretty freaking scary, though.
I suppose it beats working for a living. The law is there to protect those who have suffered loss such as those whose friends and relatives were on the B737 Max incidents. If the basis of the case is being able to see a fiery or missing engine and nothing further that would limit those with locus standi to those who could see the engines out of the right windows and whose view was not obscured by wings, other pax, seats, distance or the positioning of the windows. Cannot see how the public good is well served by cases such as this though it is quite possible United will pursue the matter with Pratt and Whitney should it be found that the engine issue was not caused by installation maintenance nor usage.
I knew it was just a matter of time that some sleazy lawyer would file a class action suit. Everyone was ok but now all they see is $$$$.
Unbelievable! Never miss a chance to get rich over a completely benign incident! That’s great, sue the pants off the airline(s) and the rest of us will pay the increased Liability premiums a little at a time.
I wonder how many of those “stressed” passengers got on the replacement aircraft and headed on over to Paradise. Shame on the opportunistic weenies that are suing and the ambulance chasing maggots that are representing them in court.
Does anyone really believe that anyone at United Airlines wanted that to happen or was intentionally negligent?
All very good points. What airline would intentionally create situations to get bad press/get sued? And you’re correct, likely a high percentage of those on the flight booked another flight to Hawaii.
Who can I sue if the weather is bad and I had plans that day?
I’d try suing the Govenor Ige. He seems to be controlling everything else.
I was on a 737 that sucked a goose into the right engine, trashing it. Whole plane was vibrating and we were only 700 feet up. Pilot leveled off and made a long, flat, slow turn and we landed safely a few minutes later. Everyone cheered and clapped. The lady next to me told me this was her first flight. She asked if I was going to get on the replacement flight that was arranged for us. HECK YES I told her. I figure I am GOLDEN for a few thousand more flights. What are the odds it could happen twice ?
Clifford said, “The passengers on this flight thought it was going to be their last… Imagine as a passenger looking out the window of a plane and helplessly watching the engine on fire. The terror you experience lasts a lifetime.”
As I recall from my original reading of this event here most (if not all) of those terrified passengers got on the next UAL flight that replaced this one. Only lawyers can write like this.
There is a reason why the plane has two engines…it can fly just fine on one.
The engine cowling did it’s job; it contained the loss of a blade and prevented it from flying through row 15. I can understand that they were scared but get over it.
Give me a break…stuff happens. Have we REALLY become such a sissy society that we can’t face what life brings? There is risk in everything we do otherwise we’d simply pull the covers over our heads and go hide in our favorite hid-e-hole. Instead of customers lining up to high five this obviously brave and skilled crew we have this. Everyone’s a victim nowadays. SO tired of this nonsense.Stay home under cover or go out and accept some of life’s challenges. If I hear one more whiny pathetic story like this my head will pop.
After hearing about this I am now traumatized about flying. Maybe I can get in on this lawsuit. Come on people!
Gimmeabreak. They lived through it, didn’t they? Clifford Law Offices probably contacted every one of those passengers and told them that they were traumatized and are therefore entitled compensation. They probably didn’t know they were traumatized until Clifford told them they were. Next, they will see how many were hurt when they spilt the coffee cup they were holding because the plane jerked a little and they got hot coffee all over them. We live in a litigation society. What a mess.
I usually don’t comment on controversial matters, but I’m really having a hard time with this one. Things happen. It’s a matter of life. There was no negligence on the airlines part (from what I read). The pilot (and co-pilot) landed the plane safely and everyone eventually reached their destination. I’m not saying that none of the passengers are dealing with PTSD, that is entirely possible and somewhat expected. But again, things happen. What is the basis for the lawsuit??
“the basis of the lawsuit”. Years ago a person in a massive RV engaged the “auto pilot” ( I.e., the cruise control”. ) The driver got up and left the driver seat and walked back into the RV. The RV was doing about 70mph. Needless to say it crashed. The driver survived & sued the manufacturer because the RV manual didn’t specifically say the cruise control wouldn’t steer the RV. I kid you not. The jury awarded the driver a bazillion dollars. Again I kid you not. Welcome to the Plaintiffs Bar. Why do you think plaintiff attorneys lobby so hard and spend SO MUCH MONEY lobbying against Tort Reform.
Oh my. 🤦♀️ And that’s the problem. People win those kinds of lawsuits and it’s free game for anything else. So ridiculous. That’s sounds like McDonald’s needing to add, “Caution – Contents May Be Hot” to their coffee cups.
Please, shouldn’t the passengers just be grateful the pilots and crew did a fantastic job landing the plane safely?
I sued one time after a car accident and learned a valuable lesson.
Money doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change what happened. It doesn’t
change how you feel about it. Money does not make you feel better. After it was all said and done it didn’t change anything. In hindsight I
wish that I hadn’t bothered with it. Lesson learned.
Leave it to a pack of land sharks to bring a lawsuit like this. Shakespeare had it correct when it comes to lawyers and there dubious value in our society today! The aircraft was NEVER out of control and the fire suppression system worked as planned and everyone survived. Everyone looking for a free paycheck in our overly used and abused legal system. If anyone of those individuals that sued but then boarded the next flight out to Hawaii should have their case summarily thrown out by the courts as frivolous! Time for everyone to get over it and themselves!
People are just greedy
“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers”. Shakespeare’s Henry VI.
Agreed. You always take your chances of harm or death in everything you do. It was not intentional, and they were fortunate that the plane was able to land with no fatalities.