NEWS //
Woman Sues Airline for Turbulence
by Matthew Burckhardt
Plane © flissphil
Texan Colleen O’Neal is suing Continental Airlines for experiencing extreme turbulence during a 2009 flight. Sure, it sounds like a silly frivolous lawsuit at first, but then again:
Weather reports at the time of departure showed a threat of “tornados, wind shear, and dangerously strong winds with rotating and intense thunderstorms.”
What was supposed to be a 20-minute flight turned into more than two hours as the aircraft repeatedly rose and fell “as if it had lost power and was falling out of the sky,” according to the lawsuit…upon landing, crew members and passengers aboard the flight took a picture because they all survived
She has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and suffers from nightmares, flashbacks and an intense fear of flying.
It’s hard to blame an airline for the weather — then again, it sounds like pretty terrible decision-making on the airline’s part to take off.
Read the full story at MSNBC.
You might be interested in related posts tagged with: News, Texas, United States
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About the Author
Matthew Burckhardt gave up a promising underwater hockey career overseas to move to Washington, D.C. where he works in international development while planning his next trip. You can follow his travels at his girlfriend's photography blog, The Daily Garbanzo.
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As Seen In
October 12th, 2011
can you really sue for turbulence
October 13th, 2011
This should not go to court. The airlines do not ever guarantee you won’t hit turbulence. Ridiculousness seems to be reigning :(
October 13th, 2011
I plan to sue Colleen O’Neal for PTSD caused by reading about her which triggered an irrational fear of extremely stupid people.
October 18th, 2011
haha debbie it appears it is
October 29th, 2011
only in America!!!! ☻
December 24th, 2011
I think the lawsuit has merit. If you intensely fear flying due to their stupid decision, it affects your whole life. What if you have to fly for your job or cuz of a death in the family?? Making a 20 minute flight into a 2 hour trip of horror is lawsuit material as far as I am concerned! Continental is not the best airline…
January 21st, 2012
I say to Continental Airlines, Ban this stupid woman and her lawyers from ever flying with them again .
September 3rd, 2012
The worst thing about suits like this can be the effect on the plaintiff. To get a good payoff she has to be convincing. The easiest way to be convincing is for her to believe it herself. Some people make themselves sicker by doing this.