Baggage Handler Dropped Case Containing $20,000 Worth Of Gear

A photographer on his way to shoot a wedding in Detroit last month had to borrow a camera to finish the job after baggage handlers at American Airlines dropped his Pelican case containing some $20,000 worth of equipment.

The incident took place on June 5, according to the website PetaPixel. Photographer Yosef Shidler, who works for CJ Studios, was flying to Detroit for the job, and was forced to gate-check the case full of gear he was carrying with him. But as it was being loaded, the case fell off the loading ramp and dropped 7 or 8 feet onto the tarmac. It burst open, spilling lenses and camera bodies everywhere. Several were badly damaged.

Shidler captured a video of some of his interaction with the baggage handlers on his phone.

The photographer was directed to the baggage office, where he filed a complaint. An audio file of that process was captured on his phone. He was told there was a problem with their system that prevented them from printing a copy of his complaint. He was later told on the phone that American was "unable to locate an active Property Irregularity Report based on the information provided. If you have not filed a report with us please contact our office as soon as possible to have a courtesy file created."

The case is currently in limbo. Shidler has filed an official claim against the airline, but has not heard back from the carrier. The video, meanwhile, has gone viral on the Internet.

(Image from YouTube video)

FMI: Video