Engine Failure Results in Airline and Mass Disaster Aviation Lawsuit
Case Title: Odekirk, et al v. Aero Ruta Maya, et al
On August 24, 2008, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (TG-JES) operated by Aero Ruta Maya was carrying volunteers and missionaries to a remote area in Guatemala to finish building a school when the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-44A engine suffered a catastrophic failure. The pilots attempted an emergency landing but crashed in a field. There were 14 people on board, and only four survived the crash. Those that survived were seriously injured, with burns. The firm successfully prosecuted the case against Aero Ruta Maya and Pratt & Whitney, as well as a turbine engine maintenance facility in Dallas, Texas. The lawsuits were resolved for confidential amounts, but the total settlement remains one of the largest ever achieved for passengers on a chartered flight.
Ladd Sanger is an attorney and a licensed pilot who focuses on aviation accidents, including product liability, product litigation, and representing clients who have been injured as a result of aviation accidents. His experience as a pilot helps him understand the technical aspects of aviation crashes.
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