Legal News for Florida Aviation Airline Accident Attorneys. FAA looks into what may have caused American Airlines crash that injured 91 people in Kingston.
Federal Aviation Administration investigates American Airlines Flight 331 that crashed in Kingston, Jamaica.
Miami, FL—Investigators begin to probe what may have caused the American Airlines Flight 331 crash that occurred in Kingston, Jamaica on Tuesday, December 22, 2009, according to information provided by the Dallas Morning News. The Boeing 737-800 reportedly broke into three fragments after it ran off the runway in bad weather, through a fence and a road, eventually coming to a rest right next to the Caribbean Sea. Of the 148 passengers, as well as six crew members aboard, 91 of those individuals were transported to the hospital to be treated for the injuries they acquired during the horrifying crash.
Though it is apparent that the rain and wind on Tuesday night may have had a great influence on the pilot’s ability to stop the plane before it crashed, it was reported that based on previous airplane wrecks, pilot fatigue may have also been a factor in the crash. For instance, the National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) http://www.ntsb.gov, allegedly claimed that pilot fatigue was a major factor that contributed to a June 1999 crash in Little Rock, Arkansas that left 11 fatally injured after the pilot and co-pilot did not set wing spoilers and braking systems, which would have helped the plane slow down during a thunderstorm. That mistake also caused the aircraft to run off the runway, consequently splitting into pieces. The pilot and co-pilot on Flight 331 had allegedly been on duty for almost twelve hours at the time of the airplane crash. The captain has reportedly had 22 years of flight experience as well as 2,695 hours as a captain of the Boeing 737 aircrafts.
It is reported that hydroplaning may have also played a role in the crash by affecting the jet’s auto-braking system. This auto-braking system applies pressure to slow down an aircraft based on how fast the wheels are spinning. Unfortunately, since the plane is moving faster than the wheels are spinning when hydroplaning, false signals are sent to the plane’s computer. It was also noted that the runway at Norman Manley International Airport isn’t grooved like many U.S. airports, causing water to easily collect in pools, seemingly setting the perfect scene for a hydroplaning disaster. According to the Flight Safety Foundation, runway excursions make up approximately 30% of all commercial-aircraft wrecks, usually occurring under rainy or snowy weather circumstances.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) http://www.faa.gov continues to investigate the American Airlines crash.
Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan- Legal News for Florida Aviation Airline Lawyers.