The commander of an Asiana jet, which crashed in July failed to respond to as many as four separate verbal warnings from a co-pilot that the jet was making its descent too quickly, The Wall Street Journal reports. A public hearing conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also provided other examples of missed signals, inadequate crew communication and confusion about automated thrust settings in the cockpit before the accident as the plane attempted to land at San Francisco International Airport. The jet, which had no mechanical problems, flew dangerous slow and low with the airport clearly in view before it crashed into a seawall. The crash killed three passengers and injured 180 others.
Ongoing Investigation
Last week, documents and testimony at a hearing helped provide a detailed reconstruction of an event leading up to the crash. The captain of the new Boeing 777 jet, who was flying under the supervision of a training captain, who was also new to the position, told investigators that he had been very concerned about executing the visual approach to San Francisco. Due to runway construction at the time, part of the instrument landing system on the ground was inoperative and air traffic controllers have told inbound pilots to use visual approaches.
Based on the details of the investigation, it appears that the fatal crash was likely the result of poor pilot training, woefully inadequate communication and incompetence on the part of the pilots. There are a number of questions that arise here. What type of training do pilots at this airline receive? What types of communication protocols do they have?
Compensation for Victims and Families
A number of victims of this airplane crash reportedly suffered serious neck and back injuries. Injured victims of this crash can seek compensation for their injuries and damages by filing a personal injury claim against the airline. In personal injury lawsuits, plaintiffs must prove negligence on the part of the at-fault party. Victims in such cases can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitative treatment, permanent injuries, pain and suffering and emotional distress.
Injured victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.