Texas Woman Breaks Neck, Back In Airplane Turbulence

[jimntx]

"A woman who was paralyzed after disobeying warnings to remain in her seat during a turbulent flight over Texas has suffered the same type of catastrophic injuries as the late Christopher Reeve, according to her doctor." (bolding mine) This happened late last Friday or early Saturday morning on approach into MFE.

story here

Let's hope CO fights her all the way to the Supremes. You just know there will be a lawsuit regarding "Continental's negligence."

 

[boxer]

Let's hope CO fights her all the way to the Supremes. You just know there will be a lawsuit regarding "Continental's negligence."
[/quote]

Won't happen. There will be an out of court settlement. More cost effective than fighting for what is right.

 

[HottootrotNyc]

This really pi sses me off! It's terrible what happened to her and I would never wish it on my worst enemy, but I worked out of IAH that day and around that time and it was a nightmare for two full days. I sat delayed for almost 8 hours before getting back in the air and this women went to use the toilet on a 35 minute flight, when she probably sat for hours in the airport. I know the F/A's didn't do a service, they would be crazy if they did. This is what happenes when you don't listen to TRAINED SAFTEY PROFESSIONALS! I'm sorry but I hope she gets SQUAT! I am tired of people robbing my airline blind and causing the hard working professionals that make up Continental to suffer for it!

 

[galleyguy4u2]

I had this happen to me. The captain told the f/a's on the P.A. to be seated and discontinue all service. We are now all strapped in our j/s and here comes this lady to use the lav. I told her to please return to her seat and fasten your seat belt. I also said to the lady, did you not hear the captains announcement? She insisted that she had to use the lav. My flying partner and I told her: "You are up at your OWN RISK." We hit rough air and she fell in the lav and hit her head on the sink and was bleeding. EMT's met the flight and she was taken to the hospital.

Of course we wrote a flight report about the incident in detail. Never heard anything for months and then I get a call that I and my crew will be deposed because she is now suing TWA. Long story short, the court ruled she had no claim because 1. The seat belt sign was on. 2. The captain made an announcement for the f/a's to take their seats. 3. The f/a's warned her that she is up at her OWN risk which relieves the airline of any liability.

At my next recurrent, we were told that is all we have to say "You are up at your own risk." If I have to be in my j/s strapped so do the pax's. I would rather soil in my pants than be slammed to the ceiling.

 

[jimntx]

The time I was in the aisle with a fully-loaded beverage cart (250-300 lbs) and it lifted a good 2 feet off the floor when we hit a pocket was good enough for me. Now, I sit down and strap in when turbulence starts. I may be crazy, but I ain't stupid.

 

[LD3]

Won't happen. There will be an out of court settlement. More cost effective than fighting for what is right.
[/quote]
And that's a damn shame...If a court denies a case, all monies spent by the defendant should be charged back to the plaintiff...

 

[jimntx]

Just saw her lawyer on CNN. He was saying that "it is not clear that the seatbelt sign was on when she got up from her seat." Won't that be in the flight data recorder? The lawyer is trying to claim that it happened after she came out of the lav. This should get interesting.

Again, I hope CO fights all the way to the Supremes. I would be willing to contribute to their defense fund. The attitude of passengers that the seatbelt sign applies only if they don't have a reason to get up really chaps me anyway.

 

[eolesen]

Other factor here is the woman didn't speak English. The glyphs on the sign are common sense, but it will be interesting to see how the court interprets the language barrier...

Just saw her lawyer on CNN. He was saying that "it is not clear that the seatbelt sign was on when she got up from her seat." Won't that be in the flight data recorder? The lawyer is trying to claim that it happened after she came out of the lav. This should get interesting.

The chime and the pilot's announcement will be on the CVR. Not certain if it is captured on the FDR or not.

Bigger question is whether or not the CVR & FDR were pulled.

Regardless, 15 minutes from landing, there's going to be little question the "sit yer ass down" sign was on. On a short hop like IAH-MFE, there's barely any time to turn it off....

 

[jimntx]

Other factor here is the woman didn't speak English. The glyphs on the sign are common sense, but it will be interesting to see how the court interprets the language barrier...

And, no doubt even if the pa was given in Spanish also, there will be an argument that it wasn't given in the dialect spoken by the 238 people in her village.

 

[HottootrotNyc]

When I make my PA I always ad in if you chose to move while the sign is on it's at your own risk. I always have and always will, and if someone asks me I tell them no but it's at your won risk and usually they get up and go. I find Europeans sit when it's on and if they are up they take a seat. Always an American problem.

 

[FA Mikey]

And, no doubt even if the pa was given in Spanish also, there will be an argument that it wasn't given in the dialect spoken by the 238 people in her village.

If the PA was actually given. God forbid a speaker actually takes the the five seconds to do a PA, with out being reminded by the purser.

 

[flyhigh]

She was on MSNBC today and does speak English. She claims she was interpretting for people next to her who didn't. She claims to have been sitting in the back of the plane and not heard the PA announcement. Other pax in the lead in to the interview said the seat belt sign was on. Her lawyer claims that is not important as pax are allowed to get up and she had been waiting for hours (2hour pre-flight delay on aircraft) to go to the bathroom. It will be interesting to see how this goes. Apparently the NTSB reportsays the captain made announcements...

 

[jimntx]

If the PA was actually given. God forbid a speaker actually takes the the five seconds to do a PA, with out being reminded by the purser.

Mikey, it was a domestic flight. There is no requirement for a speaker, and RJs rarely have a purser on board. I know that MIA is the center of the universe, and knowledge of the rest of the world is not considered important; so, I'll tell you that both Houston and McAllen are in the United States.

 

[s80dude]

Mikey, it was a domestic flight. There is no requirement for a speaker, and RJs rarely have a purser on board. I know that MIA is the center of the universe, and knowledge of the rest of the world is not considered important; so, I'll tell you that both Houston and McAllen are in the United States.

I thought this was a 737. Was it Continental Express or Continental that was operating said flight with turbulence?

 

[T5towbar]

This bothers me a lot. People not staying in their seats when the flight crew tells them to stay. I had to actually stop the pushback on a couple of occasions, because someone went to the bathroom while pushback is taking place. What if I had to stop short and slam on brakes? Then what.....

Listen to the flight crew at all times. If they tell you to be seated and buckle up, then do it.

More then likely, this will be settled out of court.