An aviation accident can be a terrifying, life-altering experience. These devastating incidents often result in fatalities and severe injuries to surviving passengers. Aircraft accidents can happen for several reasons, including poor weather, faulty equipment, and negligence on behalf of the pilot, airline, or airport.
Some of the most common causes of aviation accidents include the following.
Pilot Error: Many aviation accidents occur due to preventable pilot errors. The pilot may travel during dangerous weather, make mistakes in judgement, or become distracted while flying a plane. In serious cases, pilots operate aircraft while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Poor Maintenance: It is crucial for airlines to perform regular inspections and maintenance on their fleet of aircraft. Unfortunately, not all airlines uphold this duty. As a result, an aircraft can suffer from mechanical failures and other dangerous issues during a flight, leading to an accident.
Defective Equipment: Some aircraft equipment becomes damaged during manufacturing. In other cases, the equipment or even the aircraft itself is defective by design. Unsafe aircraft equipment can put passengers and pilots at risk and our Fresno defective machinery attorney is prepared to take on cases relating to dangerous items.
Runway Defects: Airports have a duty to ensure that their runways and airfields are safe for landing and takeoff. If a runway has a defective design, uneven surfaces, or another condition that makes it dangerous, an aviation accident can occur.
Regulatory Violations: The aviation industry has a duty to follow Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. If an airline fails to uphold these regulations, dangerous accidents can occur.