Six People Were Seriously Injured When Plane Was Blown Off Runway By A Wind Gust

Documents released late last week in response to a Freedom of Information Act request indicate that the federal government paid $10.2 million to settle a variety of lawsuits stemming from a runway excursion which occurred in Denver in 2008.

A Boeing 737-500 operating as Continental Flight 1404 was departing from Denver International Airport on December 20, 2008, when it was pushed off the runway by a strong crosswind gust. It went into a ravine and caught fire. There were 110 passengers and crew aboard the aircraft. All survived, but six reportedly suffered critical injuries. Some 38 suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the accident.

The Associated Press reports that there were 60 lawsuits filed against the government in connection with the accident alleging that air traffic control in Denver did not advise the pilot about the gusty winds prior to giving him takeoff clearance. The amount paid to settle those suits was revealed in Justice Department documents provided in response to a FOIA request by the AP.

The NTSB said that the ATC system and inadequate crosswind training in the airline industry were contributory factors in the accident.

FMI: www.justice.gov