Southwest Plane Hits Light Pole in Denver
A Southwest plane hit a light pole at Denver International Airport earlier this week. The minor Southwest accident did not result in any injuries. But it did lead many to wonder how it happened.
The plane was taxiing to its intended gate when it hit the errant light pole. The wing was damaged, and the pole itself collapsed. There were 89 passengers and 5 crew members on board at the time.
There were no reported injuries. However, as a precaution the airport sent out buses to shuttle passengers and crew to the terminal, according to KMGH-TV.
Southwest says it is working with the FAA and the NTSB to sort out what happened.
Aviation safety consultant Steve Cowell told KMGH-TV that light poles at airports are meant to collapse after getting hit. He said that the accident was not too major.
No other flights were impacted by the Southwest snafu.
It's a lucky break for Southwest. The company may be able to avoid the ire of a Denver personal injury lawyer since no passengers or crew were hurt.
If injuries had occurred it's likely that hurt individuals could have sued. They may then need to prove that the accident was the result of the pilot's negligence. They could have asked for compensation from the airline. Damages could have encompassed their medical bills and lost wages depending on the severity of their injuries.
There has been no word that anybody plans to sue the airline over its embarrassing runway mishap. It seems for now the Southwest "accident" won't generate litigation -- but it does provide some bad publicity. No airline wants to see "Southwest Plane Hits a Light Pole" as a headline.
Related Resources:
- Southwest Plane Hits Light Pole at Denver Airport (AP)
- In-Flight Injuries on Airplanes (FindLaw)
- Model's Hand Cut Off by Small Plane Propeller (FindLaw's Injured)
- 30 Injured in United Airlines Flight Turbulence (FindLaw's Injured)