There are many ways you can be injured on an airplane.
Summer vacation is in full swing, and millions of people are gearing up to travel by air across the United States. The month of July had three of the busiest air travel days of 2023, with well over 6 million passengers flying in the span of 3 days.
(June 3, 2022) On Thursday, June 2, 2022, a pilot crashed his plane in a Medina County field and walked away from the accident with only minor injuries, as reported by KSAT News. The pilot, William Fahey, was taking his single-engine handmade plane for a test flight when his engine suddenly gave out. He crashed into a field upside down but managed to walk away with nothing but a couple of scratches, one on his arm and one on his leg. The Police responded to the single-engine plane crash south of FM 211 and Culebra in Media County at around 2:41 PM, just outside of Loop 1604. No one else was injured. The pilot told KSAT that he was “absolutely blessed” and “It could have been so much worse.”
What do I do if I’ve Been in an Aviation Accident in Texas?
Most of us do not fly – or crash – our own handmade planes. But what do you do if you have been in a commercial or private aviation accident? Aviation accidents do not happen very often, especially when compared to automobile accidents or public transport accidents. However, when they do happen, they are almost always fatal or result in very serious personal injury. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extensively investigates aviation accidents in the United States. Because of this, there is a lot of data and evidence recovered after an aviation accident about the airline, the pilots, and the manufacturers of the plane. Manufacturers can be found to be at fault for up to seventy percent of the accident due to faulty manufacturing practices, which are strictly regulated. The airline itself may also be found at fault for up to thirty percent due to violations such as missing or poorly executing inspections.
Hot air balloon rides and other similar in-air recreation activities are a unique and thrilling experience for many participants. While these excursions provide the public with a special vantage point, there are inherent risks in participating in these activities. Texas hot air balloon accidents can pose many challenges to victims and their loved ones. The public is urging lawmakers to push for more protections for balloon riders. This push stems from the Federal Aviation Administration’s failure to implement regulatory changes following a devastating 2016 hot air balloon accident.
A recent investigative news report highlighted the frustration the Texas hot air balloon accident victims’ families are experiencing nearly five years after the accident. A woman lost her daughter and granddaughter in a hot air balloon accident in 2016. According to reports, the women were two of the 16 people who died when the hot air balloon flew into a power line. The hot air balloon pilot had reportedly taken a combination of various prescription medications before the flight. The woman is working with lawmakers on legislation that would require commercial balloon operators to take medical and physical exams before licensure. However, as the fifth anniversary of the accident passed, the Federal Aviation Administration is yet to implement any of the rules or regulations. However, even with oversight, hot air balloons continue to pose serious risks to operators and passengers. Recently, five people died in a New Mexico hot air balloon accident. The hot air balloon hit a power line and separated the balloon from the gondola where the passengers stand.
Despite regulations, hot air balloons continue to pose significant risks to passengers. There have been about 20 hot air balloon accidents every year and about 26 fatalities in the last twenty years. Although hot air balloon fatalities seem low, the statistics should be looked at relative to the number of people who ride these vessels. There are many reasons these accidents occur, and the majority involve some degree of negligence. The leading causes of hot air balloon accidents are:
Texas Injury Lawyers Blog