South Carolina Personal Injury Blog - Mass Transit (Airline, Cruise Ship, Train, Bus)

Plane in Nigerian Crash may have been Ineligible to Fly

Mary F. Schiavo — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:00:00 GMT

In June 2012, a plane crash in Nigeria resulted in the deaths of all 153 people who were on board the plane, as well as an unknown number of people on the ground. Among the casualties were at least seven American citizens, including residents of both Connecticut and Texas.

The plane crash involved an aircraft operated by Lagos-based Dana Airlines that was en route from the Nigerian capital of Abuja to the large Nigerian city of Lagos. The crash occurred just 11 miles from the runway in Lagos, shortly after the flight’s pilots reportedly made it known that they were experiencing engine trouble. The official cause of the disaster remains under investigation.

As is often the case when an accident of this magnitude occurs, the tragedy brings into focus aviation safety issues such as insufficient regulations, lax enforcement and non-existent monitoring. According to reports, the aircraft in question was 22 years old and had been sold to Dana Air by Alaska Airlines. The plane experienced several complications prior to the recent crash—in 2002 when it made an emergency diversion because of smoke and an electrical smell coming from the cabin, in 2006 when smoke in the passenger cabin required an evacuation following landing, and again in 2010 when the plan lost engine power because of a bird strike.

Nigeria has a notoriously poor safety record when it comes to air travel, having the highest airline accident rate in the world according to the International Civil Aviation Organization. Although many African countries have good safety records, others lack, among other things, adequate safety regulation, enforcement, air traffic control systems and aircraft maintenance.

My hope is that the investigation of this crash will prompt Nigeria to implement and enforce stricter safety regulations, not only for international travelers but also for the people flying domestic flights in Nigeria.

Originally posted at The Legal Examiner by Mary F. Schiavo

10 Years Later and Airport Security is Still Failing

Mary Schiavo — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Earlier this week, Federal agents arrested a stowaway, a U.S. and Nigerian citizen, who successfully made it onto a cross-country Virgin America flight from John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport in New York to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) without having a valid ticket.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and any other contractor hired to check tickets and identification at security did not detect that the ticket was expired and the identification presented--a student ID from a university, rather than a government-issued ID as required--did not match the ticket. Virgin America Airline did not notice the passenger’s ticket was not for the day of travel, did not see that the ticket name did not match the passenger manifest, and did not match the ticket to the electronic ticketing list for the flight (and it is that list which is considered the actual manifest) and allowed the flight to depart with a headcount of passengers exceeding the number on the manifest. Furthermore, he was not detained when the crew realized mid-flight that there was a stowaway on board. Flight attendants became suspicious during the flight when the passenger was sitting in a seat that should have been vacant. Although he was questioned by law enforcement after that flight, he was not arrested.

Four days later at LAX, the passenger again managed to clear security with inaccurate documentation. Finally, federal agents arrested him the following day when he tried to board a Delta Airlines flight to Atlanta without a valid ticket. At the time of his arrest, the passenger had 10 expired boarding passes, none of which were under his name.

Why should this concern us? As we approach the 10th anniversary of the September 11th, people can still make it through airport security with false identification and invalid tickets. This man’s repeated ability to get through screening checkpoints and ticket agents seriously undermines any reported efforts that have been made by the TSA to improve security measures. Furthermore, it cripples public’s faith in the airline system keeping them safe. Millions of American passengers have stepped up to the challenge and done whatever is required by the airlines and the government to help keep travel safe--from inconvenience to very private searches, but those in charge weaken the public's patience and resolve when they "officials" are asleep at the switch.

Originally posted at The Legal Examiner by Mary Schiavo

Holiday travel preparation crucial for safety and sanity

Mary Schiavo — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 12:28:46 GMT

Although holidays should be filled with good tidings and great cheer, travel during high traffic seasons can add significant stress to otherwise joyous times of the year. Given the recently discovered explosive materials aboard cargo planes bound for the United States, flying this season may be a bit more of a hassle due to heightened security measures.

Here are some helpful tips, involving everything from preplanning to airport savvy, to help your holiday travels run more smoothly.

Avoid peak travel dates and times. When planning your trip, research the busiest days for travel. As with all things in life, avoid chaos if you can. Aim to fly on the holiday itself, and if you can, avoid traveling on the Sunday evening following a holiday weekend. When choosing a time, consider flights early or later in the day as airport traffic is typically less congested.
Book tickets early. Fares rise as major holidays approach, so don’t wait until the last minute to make your plans. Doing so may result in not only higher prices, but also less optimal flight choices.
Plan your connections carefully, or try to avoid them completely. When booking, make sure to allow for sufficient time during layovers. It is better to have extra time at the airport bar to eat an over-priced hamburger or lounge at your gate with a good book than to be running barefoot through the airport trying to make your connection.
Prepare for couch time in the event of flight delays or severe weather. Peak travel times often bring excessive delays, and your connection is likely to be delayed. If you have the option, choose non-stop flights. The worst delays occur in connecting airports where you may not be near friends or family. Also, flying non-stop will cut the risk of accidents in half as most accidents occur during take-off and landing
Pack wisely: Avoid trying to pack all of your worldly belongings into a carry-on. As tempting as it may be to stuff your carry-on like a Thanksgiving turkey, TSA regulations have made this strategy a bit tricky. Overstuffed bags that must be opened for a security check are difficult to repack. When stuck in a long security line, this could make for a serious time-delay, not to mention more than a few ugly glares.
Unwrap your gifts before traveling, especially if you plan to carry them on the plane. Wait to wrap your presents until you get to your destination. There is a strong chance they will be unwrapped for inspection by security personnel. Consider gift bags instead of wrapping paper this holiday season since the items can easily be removed from their bags if needed.
Stay calm. Airline employees have considerable power over your well-being while traveling, and many will be tempted to wield it against you if you give them attitude. Watch what you say and exercise patience and respect.

Consider using some of these tips when you fly this holiday season, and you may have a delightfully uneventful trip.

Originally posted at The Legal Examiner by Mary Schiavo

Aviation safety bill passed by house may be step towards safer skies

Mary Schiavo — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:14:08 GMT

U.S. House and Senate leaders have compromised on a slimmed-down measure of a comprehensive FAA bill to enhance airline safety. The bill, passed by the House on a voice vote, applies to all airlines and is the first real attempt to revise the rules regarding pilots in decades. It is expected to get final Senate approval over the next few days.

“This is the strongest aviation safety bill the house has taken up in decades,” said Rep Jerry Costello (D-Illinois), who chairs the House Transportation subcommittee.

The new measures were prompted by the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 near Buffalo-Niagara International Airport in 2009. All 49 passengers and crew aboard the flight and individual on the ground were killed in the crash. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board largely blamed the crash on crew error as well as deficiencies in pilot training by Colgan Air, the regional carrier that operated the flight for Continental Airlines.

For relatives of many of the victims from flight 3407 who were observing the debate, and even cheering from the House visitors’ gallery, the compromise marked an end to their intense, seventeen-month lobbying effort to push through a safety bill.

The bill states several stipulations including but not limited to the following:

• Pilots must have at least 1,500 hours of flight time logged before flying passengers – up from the 250 hours currently required of some newly hired co-pilots. The measure could force regional airlines to hire more experienced pilots and indirectly lead to higher salaries.

• Because regional carriers often fly under names that sound similar to their major airline partners, web sites that sell airline tickets must state on their first page the name of the carrier operating each segment of the flight.

• The FAA must strengthen regulations that govern pilot training programs at airlines. The NTSB has urged airlines to provide remedial training for pilots who make errors or have difficulty on tests.

• The FAA must update rules on pilot duty hours and rest time to alleviate cockpit fatigue, an effort that is already under way. Pilot performance was a contributing factor in four of the past six fatal airline accidents in the U.S. involving regional carriers.

Industry representatives and FAA officials object to some of the pilot training and other oversight provisions. They argue that lawmakers are attempting to micromanage safety rules. Longer-term issues relating to scheduling and funding of the FAA’s proposed shift to satellite-based traffic-control systems are also not addressed in the bill.

Originally posted at The Legal Examiner by Mary Schiavo