American Airlines, airport sued over tarmac lightning strike death
Monday, 27 Apr, 2016
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The family of a passenger who died after being struck by lightning is suing Columbia Metropolitan Airport, American Airlines and US Airways.
Sonya Dockett, 52, was hit by a lightning bolt on June 27 after exiting a flight which had been diverted to the airport due to a thunderstorm.
The lawsuit is seeking damages for failing to take necessary safety precautions to protect passengers from storms or lightning.
"Ms. Dockett came to her untimely death as a direct and proximate result of defendants’ negligent, grossly negligent, willful, wanton, and reckless conduct or failure," the lawsuit states.
"Were it not for the defendants’ reckless disregard for the safety of passengers aboard US Airways Flight 5137, Sonya would be alive today," said family attorney Ken Suggs.
"Common sense should have informed those in charge not to send passengers onto an open tarmac in the rain as a dangerous storm approached."
Passengers were held on the aircraft for 45 minutes at the airport before being asked to deplane to the airport terminal.
It was then that Dockett was struck by lightning in front of her family and later died of her injuries on August 5.
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