American Airlines passenger claims runaway drinks cart gave him brain injury
A runaway beverage cart has left a passenger on an American Airlines flight with a long term brain injury, a lawsuit claims.
Charles Johnston is seeking $10 million in damages from the airline after filing the complaint in New York.
The lawsuit questions why the flight did not make an emergency landing directly after the incident which took place just after the flight took off from Hartford, Connecticut in April 2016.
The pilot continued on to its destination at Charlotte Airport, two hours away.
The fully loaded beverage cart was not secured properly and sped down the aisle before hitting Johnston, causing a large forehead gash, severe bleeding and a loss of consciousness, the suit claims.
He now suffers from ‘chronic traumatic brain injury and post-concussive syndrome,’ and is unable to work.
It blames the airline for ‘gross negligence and reckless disregard.’
American spokesman Matt Miller said the airline is reviewing the complaint but declined to comment further.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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