Says Flight 1549 Rescue Further Strapped Already Shaky
Company
The first lawsuit may soon be filed
related to the
January 15 ditching of US Airways Flight 1549
in New York's Hudson River... and it might not come from an
'emotionally distressed' passenger.
Crain's New York Business reports NY Waterway, operator of the
commuter ferry that came to the rescue of many of the 155 people
onboard the airliner, is preparing to sue US Airways for financial
damages stemming from the accident. NY Waterways operates a ferry
service from Manhattan Island to New Jersey... and is struggling
financially. Not helping that situation was the sudden arrival of
an Airbus A320 squarely on its place of business, and the resulting
closure of a large section of the Hudson while investigators combed
the area.
In the 48 hours following the ditching, NY Waterways operated 14
ferries in support of the investigation. It also opened its
facilities to serve as emergency headquarters for rescuers and
investigators, and as triage centers for the survivors. NY
Waterways also paid its employees overtime to assist in the rescue
effort... while taking in almost no passenger revenue in that
time.
Though his company has received a large amount of positive press
for its role in the successful rescue, as well as accolades from
the US Coast Guard, NY Waterways CEO Arthur Imperatore Sr. says he
has yet to receive any acknowledgement -- publicly or financially
-- from US Airways for the company's efforts.
"We are embattled," said Imperatore, 83. "The question is
whether we can survive."
Admittedly, that was a question long before Flight 1549 ditched
in the river. Passenger revenue has been declining since last fall,
hitting a low of 26,400 daily commuters in February. The company
also faces the need to return its equipment in September, when its
current loan with CIT Group expires. Thanks to the credit crunch,
that lease likely won't be renewed.
For the past several years, Imperatore has used a chunk of his
own fortune -- said to be as high as $20 million -- from the
shipping business to keep NY Waterways afloat. He wants a public
entity, such as the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, to
take over the company... saying NY Waterways serves as part of the
area mass-transit system, so it should be eligible for public
money.
The company has also served an important role in a number of
other area crises, including in the aftermath of 9/11. "They are
generally the Good Samaritan that responds to any emergency on the
water," said US Coast Guard Captain Robert O'Brien.
US Airways declined comment on any pending litigation, citing
corporate policy.
(Image of NY Waterways ferry assisting rescue courtesy
of Gregory
Lam)
NTSB Final Report: Aviat A1
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