Crash-landing passenger sues CAL – report

Courthouse News Service today reported that a Guyanese passenger on the Caribbean Airlines flight that crash-landed and split in two at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri  last year is claiming in court that her injuries in the incident stemmed from the airline’s negligence.

The report said that Nandine Persaud sued Caribbean Airlines in Queens County Supreme Court. She was a passenger on the July 30, 2011 Flight BW523 from New York City to Georgetown, Guyana, via Trinidad.

The Boeing 737-800 overran the runway, broke through a fence, fell onto a road and broke apart. None of the 157 passengers and six crew members died, but several were injured.

The report said that in her filing Persaud is claiming that the crash “was caused by the negligent servicing, maintenance, repair, operating and piloting of the subject aircraft”.

The report noted that the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority had investigated and stated in its initial findings: “At this stage it appears that the primary contributing factor in this accident was that the aircraft made a long landing and touched down with insufficient runway remaining to come to a safe stop.”

Persaud, the report said,  says she suffered mental anguish, fear of impending death, and severe and disabling injuries.

She is seeking damages for her injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and loss of earnings and earning capacity.

Courthouse News Service is a nationwide news service for lawyers and the news media. Based in Pasadena, California, Courthouse News focuses on civil litigation, from the date of filing through the appellate level. Courthouse News says it publishes its own original news content prepared by its staff of reporters and editors based across the country.