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.
Mike Slack has been practicing law for over 36 years and has litigated hundreds of lawsuits. His experience as a licensed pilot and former NASA aerospace engineer gives him unique insight into aviation accident lawsuits.
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