Hard landing leads to lawsuit

An Aer Lingus cabin crew member is suing the airline over injuries she allegedly received as a result of a hard landing at Naples airport in Italy.

Aisling McCormack Pittion, aged 39, Ardagh Court, Crumlin, Dublin, claims she hurt her neck and back when the aircraft collided heavily with ground as she sat ready for landing on July 15, 2011.

In High Court proceedings, she makes a number of claims including that the airline failed to provide a safe place or system of work, failed to train her adequately or at all and failed to implement adequate or any risk assessment. She also claims there was a failure to land the aircraft safely.

Aer Lingus denies her claims and contends she was the author of her own misfortune, that she failed to take any or reasonable care for her safety and failed to exercise proper attention and follow proper procedures.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns refused an application from Ms McCormack Pittion’s lawyers for the release of material held by Aer Lingus which she says she needs for her case.

The court heard the airline had provided some discovery in relation to “touchdown flight data” recorded as part of the flight but she then sought further information in relation to the approach of the flight from 2,000 feet before touchdown which Aer Lingus objected to .

The airline argued the information sought was not necessary or relevant because she was claiming she was injured as a result of the G-forces exerted on the aeroplane and the approach flight data would provide no information in that regard.

The data sought was also subject to a confidentiality agreement between Aer Lingus and trade unions Impact and the Irish Airline Pilots Association under a data gathering agreement which can only be released by court order.

Mr Justice Kearns said the issue of the G-force would be subject of expert evidence at the hearing of the case. He did not believe ordering further discovery was necessary to enable Ms McCormack Pittion to make her case.