Opinion ID: 687059
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Scope of Article 17

Text: 9 The parties devote much of their briefs to the question whether the district court erred in requiring that an accident under Article 17 must be related to operation of the aircraft. As we read the district court's opinion, however, it found no such requirement. Rather, the court held as a matter of law that the placement of objects on the floor of an aircraft during an international flight is an ordinary, expected event. Even assuming, as Craig argues, that an Article 17 accident need not be related to operation of the aircraft, the court would not have reached a different result. 10 As discussed below, reviewing the district court's conclusion de novo, we would reach the same result. Therefore, we need not decide whether the term accident ... on board the aircraft in Article 17 refers exclusively to accidents involving operation of the aircraft. 11