Suit Filed By Family Of Young Victim

A wrongful death lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, stemming from a December 2005 runway overrun accident at Chicago's Midway Airport, has been settled.

The suit stems from the December 8, 2005 accident in which a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 skidded off runway 31-Center at Midway International Airport and onto a street, striking a car. Eight year-old Joshua Woods of Leroy, IN was a passenger in that vehicle, and died as a result of his injuries.

The boy's family also filed wrongful death lawsuits against the plane's manufacturer about a year ago, according to The Dallas Business Journal.

Brandy King, spokeswoman for Southwest, would not disclose the financial terms settlement. She said other lawsuits were also filed, but she did not know the status of those suits.

"We know we cannot bring Joshua back, and we believe this settlement brings a tragic and difficult situation to a close," the airline said in a statement.

The Associated Press reports the suit alleged Southwest was negligent, including failure to land the 737 properly and attempting to land during deteriorating weather conditions. The boy's family also claims Boeing shared some of the blame, alleging there were thrust reverser problems.

A spokeswoman for Boeing could not immediately be reached by the Business Journal.

As ANN reported, passengers Mariko L.A. Bennett and Stanley L. Penn also sued the airline for negligence. The two Maryland men -- the flight in question had departed from BWI -- are suing Southwest over injuries they said they received during the accident, adding they were forced to wait on an airport shuttle for medical attention after the accident.

The plaintiff's attorney states the pilot should have known it was not safe to land on the snow-slicked runway.

Shortly after the accident, MDW installed an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) -- a concrete "bed" designed to stop aircraft from overshooting the runway, by collapsing under a plane's weight.

FMI: www.southwest.com