PHILADELPHIA — A couple's suit says American Airlines is responsible for injuries the woman allegedly suffered in an emergency plane evacuation, which they claim was caused by the captain’s negligence.
Sherree McCulley and Paul McCulley filed a lawsuit on March 11 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against American Airlines Group Inc. and American Airlines Inc., citing negligence and loss of consortium.
According to the complaint, on March 13, 2014, Mrs. McCulley was a passenger aboard U.S. Airways Inc. Flight 1702 from Philadelphia International Airport to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida, the suit says. The lawsuit alleges that two days before the flight,the captain underwent a medical stress test and given medication which allegedly rendered him unfit to fly.
During the takeoff, the captain reportedly failed to address a warning in the system, and the plane rapidly descended, striking the runway in a fashion that required an emergency evacuation of the passengers, the suit claims. As a result of the incident, Mrs. McCulley avers that she suffered serious injuries, requiring extensive medical care.
The McCulleys seek compensatory and punitive damages, post-judgment interest, costs, and a trial by jury. They are represented by Francis J. Curran Jr. of The Curran Firm PC, in Media, PA.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case number 2:16-cv-01155-PD