Trade Centre victim's widow sues airline over hijacking

A woman whose husband died aboard one of the jets that crashed into the World Trade Centre is suing the airline.

Ellen Mariani alleges company negligence led to the September 11 hijacking.

Mrs Mariani filed the lawsuit in the US District Court for the southern district of New York.

Her husband, Louis Mariani was a passenger on United Airlines Flight 175, the second plane to hit the centre.

The couple were taking separate flights to California to attend the wedding of Ellen Mariani's daughter.

Initially, Louis Mariani had planned to stay home, thinking it was too expensive for both of them to go. But his wife raised money through yard sales to buy him a surprise ticket so he could see his stepdaughter walk down the aisle.

Mariani's lawyer, Don Nolan, said in a statement that the airline had a duty to "exercise the highest degree of care" for safety and should have stopped the hijackers from boarding the plane. The statement did not elaborate on what Mr Nolan thinks the airline should have done differently.

Mr Nolan said Mrs Mariani has decided not to apply for money from the federal Victims Compensation Fund, which is open only to those families who agree not to sue anyone for damages.

"Mrs Mariani doesn't want the taxpayers' money," he said. "She wants her day in court with United Airlines."

Officials at United Airlines could not immediately be reached for comment.