More than a dozen passengers filed a lawsuit against American Airlines for a chaotic emergency evacuation from a plane that caught fire.
The Boeing 737-800, which diverted to Denver after suffering technical issues, caught fire on the tarmac after the engine ignited.
The lawsuit involving 16 customers alleges negligence for not declaring an emergency prior to landing or requesting firefighting support on the tarmac.
The airline ‘failed to properly follow abnormal and/or emergency checklists’ the lawsuit states.
Also, it ‘failed to properly and orderly evacuate the aircraft.’.
An initial filing alleged the airline ‘failed to timely request emergency assistance,’
The NTSB released a preliminary report this summer citing several multiple engine maintenance failures.
The suit also cites gross negligence in conducting the evacuation which plaintiffs say added to emotional distress.
Some passengers were forced to evacuate onto the wing before being brought down onto the tarmac.
The lawsuit seeks damages for medical expenses and emotional distress.
