On December 22, 2009, American Airlines Flight 331 from Miami, Florida, departed the runway during landing at Kingston, Jamaica, causing severe structural damage to the aircraft and serious injuries to passengers. The accident, which occurred at approximately 10:00 P.M. EST, resulted in the Boeing 737-800 departing the end of the runway, crossing a road, eventually coming to rest on a beach just short of the ocean. The flight, which originated in Washington, D.C., carried 154 passengers and six crew members.
Runway Excursion
In recent years, runway excursions during landing have been a major cause of injuries and fatalities. Mary Schiavo, Motley Rice aviation attorney and former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General, pointed out the similarities between this accident and that of American Airlines 1420, which departed the runway when landing at Little Rock, Arkansas in 1999, resulting in 11 deaths.
“Both accidents involved late night landings during heavy rain showers. In both incidents, the aircraft were unable to stop on runways that should have been perfectly adequate to accommodate the landing. In American flight 1420, flight crew fatigue played a role. Considering the stress that the airline industry has been in for the past few years, and the irregular operations caused by this week’s snow storms, fatigue may have been at issue here as well,” stated Mary Schiavo.
Contact Us
Motley Rice LLC is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the Jamaica plane crash. According to the International Air Traffic Association, runway excursions are the leading cause of aircraft accidents, with 82 % of the overruns occurring in the landing phase. Some incidents in the past involving runway excursions on landing are:
- American Airlines 1420 in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1999 – 11 fatalities, 110 injuries.
- Southwest Airlines 1455 in Burbank, California in 2000 – 44 injuries
- Southwest Airlines 1248 in Chicago, Illinois in 2005 – 1 fatality and 11 injuries
- TAM Airlines 3054 in Sao Paulo, Brazil – 199 fatalities, 12 injuries
If you or someone you know is interested in seeking legal recourse as a result of this accident, please contact former Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Mary Schiavo by email or call + 1 800.768.4026.
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Motley Rice attorneys have many years of experience representing victims of airline disasters and have aircraft pilots and mechanics on staff. If you have any questions, comments or would like to explore your legal rights as a result of this event, click here. |
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