There are many types of in-flight injuries passengers and flight attendants can suffer.
Passengers Duct Tape Man for Attempting to Open a Plane Door, Injuring a Flight Attendant on a DFW-Bound American Airlines Flight
According to a KENS5 News report, a man was taken into custody after attempting to open a plane door mid-flight yesterday.
The DFW Airport Department of Public Safety reported the incident occurred on an American Airlines flight from Milwalke to DFW Airport on Tuesday, November 20th. A passenger got up during the flight to tell the flight attendant that he needed to get off the plane immediately. He grew louder and more agitated and then rushed the flight attendant, injuring her hand and neck. Three other passengers restrained the man and tied his ankles and wrists with duct tape, holding him on the ground.
When the FBI and other agents boarded the plane, they took the man in a wheelchair for a mental health evaluation. The flight attendant was taken to the hospital. No charges had been filed against the man as of Wednesday afternoon. American Airlines released a statement thanking the passengers and flight attendants for handling the difficult situation.
Did You Know?
The number of non-commercial aviation deaths decreased from 373 in 2021 to 358 in 2022.
In-flight Injuries on Commercial and Private Airplanes
Just because a plane makes it from point A to point B doesn’t mean that passengers and flight attendants can’t be injured — in fact, in-flight injuries occur far more often than injuries from a plane crash.
Commercial and private airplanes cannot guarantee the safety of their passengers, but they have a heightened duty of care when transporting them. If you were hurt while traveling on an airplane, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Types of In-flight Injuries
There are many ways a passenger or flight attendant can be injured mid-flight, including:
- Slip-and-Fall Accidents — Spilled beverages, turned-up carpets, and uneven surfaces can lead to slip-and-fall accidents. The most common injuries associated with slip-and-fall accidents include wrist/arm fractures, severe bruising, leg fractures, and head injuries.
- Falling Luggage — If overhead bins suddenly open, passengers can be seriously injured by falling luggage. Head injuries and facial fractures are the most common injuries associated with falling luggage.
- Runaway Beverage Carts — Turbulence can cause beverage carts to fly down the aisle and hit someone. This can cause blunt force injuries and burn injuries if hot beverages spill from the cart.
- Turbulence — Turbulence can cause a variety of injuries, including slip-and-fall injuries, head injuries, and severe bruising.
- Medical Events — Medical emergencies (i.e., heart attack, stroke, etc.) should be taken very seriously by pilots and staff. The mishandling of a medical emergency may result in airline liability.
- Food Poisoning — Spoiled or undercooked food can lead to food poisoning, or someone may suffer a severe allergic reaction if allergens are not correctly declared or contaminate food.
If a flight attendant, pilot, or airline was negligent and caused you to be hurt or made extremely ill, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim.
Injured on a Flight? Call Shaw.
A record-breaking number of people are expected to travel for Thanksgiving this year.
If you or your child are injured on a flight, commercial or private, you may be entitled to compensation for things like:
- Medical Bills,
- Ongoing Medical Care,
- Pain and Suffering,
- Trauma/PTSD,
- Missed Work,
- Loss of Earning Capacity,
- Wrongful Death,
- And More.
We’ll help you find out if you have a case for free.
Call Shaw at 800-862-1260 24/7 to schedule your free consultation with an aviation accident attorney. No fees, no obligations, just the expert legal advice you need. We look forward to serving you.