Thu, Mar 14, 2013
Colgan Air, Pinnacle, Continental Absolved From Paying Cleanup Costs After Flight 3407 Accident
A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling that absolves Colgan Air, Pinnacle Airlines, and Continental Airlines from reimbursing Erie County in New York State for expenses incurred in relation the aftermath of the accident involving Continental Connection Flight 3407.
The county had sued the airlines to recoup some $800,000 in expenses for emergency response and cleanup after the accident. In its complaint, the county said it "sustained unnecessary and unprecedented property and financial damage ... as a direct and proximate result of defendants' wanton, reckless, negligent and willful conduct."
But the Associated Press reports that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit said "Absent an exception, the free public services doctrine plainly bars the county's claims to recover public expenditures." The ruling upholds a decision reached in March 2012 by U.S. District Judge William Skretny to dismiss the county's suit.
According to court documents, the expenses included "overtime pay for police and emergency personnel, the cleanup and removal of human remains, the cleanup and removal of chemical substances originating from the aircraft, the cleanup and removal of the aircraft itself." The county also tried to recover equipment costs, as well as costs for counseling for relatives of the victims.
Colgan stopped flying in September of last year as part of Pinnacle's reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy laws.
More News
From 2023 (YouTube Version): Legacy of a Titan Robert (Bob) Anderson Hoover was a fighter pilot, test pilot, flight instructor, and air show superstar. More so, Bob Hoover was an i>[...]
Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]
Aero Linx: B-52H Stratofortress The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic spee>[...]
Altimeter Setting The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).>[...]
"Knowing that we play an active part in bettering people's lives is extremely rewarding. My team and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be here and to help in any way we ca>[...]