Attorney Claims Aircraft Was 'Dangerous And Defective'

The husband of one of the crash victims of the Dana Air jet that went down June 3rd is suing Boeing and United Technologies. The suit claims the aircraft was “dangerous and defective”.

David Chukwunonso Allison, whose wife Joy was among the 153 lost in the Lagos crash is also suing the estate of the pilot. The MD-83, operated by Dana Air, reportedly radioed a distress signal to report engine failure, and came down in an apartment block while on approach to land.

Oscar Wilson, director of flight operations for Dana Air said, "There was a mayday call for engine failure at 1442 hours (1342 GMT). We don't know if it was one or two."

The lawsuit read that "As a direct ... result of defendants' design, manufacture, sale, shipment, distribution, maintenance, service, operation, ownership, leasing, and transfer of the subject aircraft and its component parts in a dangerous and defective condition ... Joy Chiedozie Allison was killed."

It blamed the pilot for failing to "properly execute landing of the subject aircraft", which it said was the result of "negligence and carelessness."

The suit is being brought by aviation attorney Gary Robb, who is based in Kansas City, Missouri and long before any probable cause data can be established offering actual evidence as to the cause of the accident. Robb noted that Allison has been the first to file a lawsuit arising from the death of a relative in the crash. On Friday Robb added that, "He did so because he wants answers, and he believes that the United States court system is far preferable to fairly and justly arrive at a resolution."

He explained that the lawsuit had been filed in Illinois because Boeing is based there.

FMI: www.ncaa.gov.ng, www.boeing.com