The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

On January 27, 2009, a Boeing 737 operated by Southwest Airlines lifted off in Los Angeles. About an hour into flight, several of the passengers began having trouble breathing. The crew was informed that the air quality in the cabin was poor. In response, the pilot engaged the engines at full thrust and climbed the aircraft. The intent of this maneuver is unknown, but the effect was to send super-heated air through the ventilation system, bathing the passengers in hot, contaminated air. A mist hung in the cabin, and several passengers began to experience problems, so the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Two sisters who were among the passengers now claim to have suffered disabling neurological injury and respiratory symptoms and have filed a personal injury lawsuit against Southwest Airlines.

This lawsuit is one of the most recent occurrences of what are known as "fume events," where dangerous chemicals are blown into the cabin of aircraft as a result of a malfunction in the aircraft's ventilation system. Ventilation systems need some way to replenish oxygen. Most commonly, this is done by introducing fresh air from the outside. In the case of airplanes, the fresh air is taken from the engines. However, when a malfunction occurs, chemicals from the engine, including tricresyl phosphate, a known neurotoxin in its tri-o-cresyl phosphate isomer, may blend with the cabin air, creating a toxic environment. Often, the level of contamination is below what is considered a toxic level, but some individuals may be more susceptible than others.

The toxicity of tricresyl phosphate and related compounds has been known since 1977. Airline fume events are common to all airlines and involve all makes and models of airplanes currently in service. A British study said that these events occur in about 1 out of every 2000 flights. A National Resource Council study of Canadian aircraft showed that on at least one model of aircraft fume events may occur as frequently as four times out of a thousand flights. With millions of flights a year, even 1 out of 2000 flights means that there would be over a dozen events every day. However, these events are not well-publicized. Although every such event is supposed to be reported, only 108 were reported in 2008, far below the expected level.

If you have been injured as a result of the negligence of an individual, or an airline or other large corporation, the personal injury lawyers at the Los Angeles office of The Cochran Firm are ready to stand up for your rights. Please contact us today for a free case evaluation.