Charges for luggage, bad food, and delays are some of the unpleasantries we endure when we fly, but none of these is dangerous. However, flying may also expose passengers and crew to toxic air fumes.
Faced with a dangerous work environment, four Alaska Airline flight attendants are suing Boeing for exposure to toxic chemicals. This occurs when cabin air intake is through the engine and the engine seals fail. When this happens, toxic byproducts from engine oil are carried through the plane’s ventilation system and into the passenger’s cabin air. The attendants claim that Boeing has known for decades of the danger these fumes pose when they enter passenger cabins.
Research done on behalf of the flight attendants estimate these dangerous “fume events” occur once per day. According to Boeing’s own internal email, on the average, one flight every two weeks is diverted due to toxic fumes in the passenger cabin.
Exposure to these airborne toxins can cause:
- nausea
- dizziness
- long term memory loss
- tremors
- joint pain
- muscle pain
The lawsuit has been filed in Cook County, Ill. Circuit Court. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) union is supporting the flight attendant’s lawsuit.
Federal and state laws protect employees from toxic exposures. If injured from exposure to toxins at work, depending on where the toxins came from and who controlled the site, there are two legal remedies:
- Workers’ Compensation Claim
- Personal Injury Lawsuit
If you have questions regarding a dangerous work place issue and are considering your options, contact us either online or by phone at 908-928-9200.
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