A passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight that skidded off a runway while landing in rainy weather in 2018 is suing the company, alleging she suffered both physical and emotional injuries.
Elizabeth Buckly’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges negligence and strict liability. The complaint filed Monday seeks unspecified damages.
A Southwest Airlines representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Southwest said at the time that there were no reports of injuries among the 112 passengers and five crew members.
Southwest flight 278 departed from Oakland for Hollywood Burbank Airport on Dec. 6, 2018. The FAA said the jet “rolled off the end of runway 8” shortly after 9:05 a.m. The plane came to rest in the Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) at the end of the runway, a safety measure designed to stop an aircraft from overrunning the runway.
As the jet touched down on the runway, the pilot lost control, causing the aircraft to land abruptly and skid violently off the runway, nearly colliding with vehicles on Hollywood Way, according to the suit.
“Plaintiff was terrified and in fear for her life as her plane skidded violently off the runway and almost crashed into vehicles,” the suit states.
Buckly developed severe anxiety and insomnia, requiring her to undergo therapy and take medication, the suit states.
She experienced injuries to her nervous system and she still suffers from severe anxiety, insomnia, terrifying memories, unwanted thoughts, according to the suit.
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