A Sampling of Our Aviation Litigation Experience
Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend has substantial experience handling and litigating aircraft cases. From the days of the Braniff Airways tragedies to military aircraft crashes and recent airline disasters, our firm has been consistently involved.
Braniff Electra Airplane Disasters
Our Houston, Texas, aircraft litigation attorneys handled the Braniff Electra airplane disasters occurring on separate dates over Buffalo, Texas, and Dawson, Texas. Our firm litigated these Texas aircraft disasters against Braniff Airways and the manufacturer of the plane and engines in question in Houston, Texas. These tragedies involved the separation of the wings from the body of the plane, resulting in fatalities for all passengers.
KODA Bird Helicopter Crash
Another case tried by our firm involved the fatality of a Houston-based helicopter news service pilot employed by radio station KODA. Our firm represented his widow and family in this product liability case against the manufacturer of the helicopter. The news service helicopter was known as the KODA Bird.
Military Aircraft Lawsuits
We have also handled claims regarding military aircraft manufactured by McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, Missouri. We have handled three cases involving fatal military aircraft crashes, RF4s, caused by defectively designed and manufactured plane equipment. These included:
- A defective hydraulic system on a single-engine plane that caused flap failure during a night approach at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas.
- A product liability case in which a wing separated from the body of the aircraft. It was determined that a manufacturing defect and failure to properly chamfer and level the wing bolts contributed to the crash.
- Electrical failure that produced an in-flight fire
Private Plane Crashes
Our firm has also been involved in numerous private plane crashes involving pilot error, flight fires and clear product liability failures with various defective flight systems. These cases have included faulty and defective interior siding, seats, seat belts, flammable interior material and coverings, and general pilot error.
Several years ago, we handled litigation against Hawaiian Airlines in which a commuter plane, due to pilot error, crashed into a mountain in Hawaii. We had complaints regarding the pilot's qualifications, background, training, history, etc. The plane was found in the mountains, with all passengers and crew listed as fatalities.
Recently, we handled aircraft litigation involving a fatal Swiss Air Boeing crash in Nova Scotia, Canada, and a private plane disaster in Eagle County, Colorado, involving three family deaths due to pilot error.
Contact Our Experienced Texas Aircraft Litigation Attorneys
Our Texas aviation accident attorneys represent victims of commercial, charter, military and private plane accidents involving multiengine planes, private single-engine planes and helicopters. If your family has experienced the tragedy of a serious personal injury or death as a result of an aviation accident, please contact Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend. Call 713-222-7211 (toll free 800-870-9584) or contact us online.
