Passenger sues Alaska Airlines

[ASpilot2be]

People will sue over anything these day
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine...skasuit21.html

[Kristie]

feel free to actually put the article in quotes Alec, you don't always need to use the link method and sometimes it's nice not to see a thread with just a link

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by Kristie

feel free to actually put the article in quotes Alec, you don't always need to use the link method and sometimes it's nice not to see a thread with just a link

OK, some forums dont like that for some reason. But now I know I can do that here

[Kristie]

really? which ones? I think as long as the article isn't pages long, it's ok to post.

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by Kristie

really? which ones? I think as long as the article isn't pages long, it's ok to post.

Jetphotos.net. I think they were worried about copyright, or something. I dont know.

I will post the articles here from now on.

[Kristie]

oh i see... i thought you meant forums within this board. jetphotos has nothing to do with how we like to do things here...

sometimes it's more appropriate to post a link....sometimes it's more appropriate to just post the article/quote/whatever...just depends on your judgement, if there's a password one has to input or if it's ultra long and/or very informative kwim?!

just use your judgement on it

[Doug Taylor]

Passenger sues Alaska Air, alleges hearing loss
Last updated March 20, 2008 8:10 p.m. PT

By DAN RICHMAN
P-I REPORTER

A Colorado woman filed a federal lawsuit against Seattle-based Alaska Airlines Inc., alleging she suffered permanent hearing loss and trauma when Alaska Airlines Flight 63 suffered mechanical problems and a loss of cabin pressure.

The plaintiff, Gayle Pickard, alleged that between 30 and 60 minutes into the Aug. 15, 2006, flight, the pilot of the 737 from Seattle to Sitka, Alaska, said that he could not pressurize the cabin and that the plane was experiencing other mechanical problems. The flight returned to Sea-Tac Airport, where it made an emergency landing, according to the suit filed Tuesday.

The accident "was not an isolated incident," the suit alleges, citing at least six similar pressurization problems in 2006 on Alaska Airlines flights.

Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Amanda Bielawski said Thursday that the company hasn't heard about the suit.

"The safety and well-being of our passengers is our highest priority," she said in an e-mail.

This year, the airline has acknowledged seven incidents involving trailing-edge wing flaps' apparent or actual failure to fully extend on its 737s, in each case requiring a precautionary emergency landing. No injuries or property damage has resulted.

The lawsuit doesn't suggest any connection with these incidents.

The Seattle P-I has detailed six of those incidents. Alaska Airlines has acknowledged a seventh incident, involving Flight 18 from Seattle to Orlando, Fla., on March 3.

P-I reporter Dan Richman can be reached at 206-448-8032 or danrichman@seattlepi.com.

© 1998-2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

[tonyw]

You know, I'm not a sue happy person, but if she really did suffer permanent hearing loss because of this incident, I think she does have a legitimate complaint.

[Seggy]

Ahhh no.

[MQAAord]

I don't remember this particular incident.

Was it a rapid/explosive decompression? Or an airplane unable to become pressurized?

If this was an airplane that had something wrong with it's pressurization and was unable to pressurize, I can't see that causing permanent hearing loss. A rapid/explosive decompression could possibly cause some hearing issues........ possibly.

[JA Yawd Bwoy]

Seriously what is with people sueing Airlines these days?

I mean first It is a man jerking of next to a girl on a AA flight, and now this?what about the rest of the passengers?

[youngflyer]

Geez, she should be happy she landed safely. I bet she didnt even suffer permanent hearing loss.

[Velocipede]

I'm betting her loss wasn't from the incident. And it was NOT an explosive decompression.

[Firebird2XC]

That'll be the likely thing to get Alaska off the hook.

Unless she just HAPPENED to have a hearing test right before the accident, proving that the hearing loss was a direct result of the flight would be slightly difficult.

[Velocipede]

I'm sure the lawyers will inspect her medical records for ANY slight loss of hearing noted BEFORE the flight.