• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  News • US Airways  >  Family Sues US Airways and CLT for Death of Son—A Wheel Well Stowaway!
NewsUS Airways

Family Sues US Airways and CLT for Death of Son—A Wheel Well Stowaway!

Matthew Klint Posted onJanuary 19, 2011 9 Comments

A family is suing Charlotte Douglas International Airport and US Airways for the death of their teenage son, who was found dead in Boston. A preliminary investigation suggests he breached security at CLT then crawled into the wheel well of a US Airways flight heading to Boston.

Christopher Chestnut, the family’s lawyer, stated, "The family wants to be sure that one, no other mother or no other father has to grieve like they’re grieving and, moreover, that Americans who fly on commercial airliners are safe, especially those flying out of Charlotte."

Yeah, that’s all well and good, but the teenager made the conscious choice to try to stowaway on an airplane. Any amount of research would have raveled that trying to stowaway in a wheel well is like signing your death warrant. But no amount of security can stop stupidity.

I don’t mean to sound so flippant–I grieve with the family for their loss–and am pleased (though I wish it was under different circumstance) to point out that airport screening remains prone to loopholes.

Hopefully security camera footage will reveal how exactly the young man got to the plane. I can think of two ways. Perhaps he just slipped away during the boarding of a small aircraft on the tarmac–though I don’t see how he could get to that point without a valid boarding pass.

Alternatively, he could have entered the private aviation area of CLT and found a way to the tarmac. I once flew through CLT on a Piper Cherokee and remember how easy it was to go from the private aviation area to the commercial aviation area. That was many years ago, though.

It’s much too early to blame the TSA for this, but it would come as no surprise if the kid breached one of their checkpoints. US Airways may also be partially culpable if they allowed the kid onto the tarmac with an invalid boarding pass (maybe he photoshopped one…).

And on the matter of the wrongful death lawsuit–it should fail unless the kid was in some way mentally handicapped, which I suspect the family would have alleged by this point.

Previous Article Mexicana Plans an Ambitious Return to the Skies
Next Article Air New Zealand Acquires Partial Ownership of Virgin Blue

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • United Airlines Newark Collision

    United Airlines 787-9 Collides With 757-200 At Newark Airport

    February 3, 2023
  • Hong Kong Plans Tourist Blitz With 500,000 Free Airline Tickets

    February 2, 2023
  • United Airlines Super Bowl LVII Flights

    United Airlines Adds Super Bowl Flights

    January 30, 2023

9 Comments

  1. Nick Reply
    January 19, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    Having flown through CLT regularly (unfortunately there are times when US has been the most convenient. The curse of living in NC) it would be extremely easy to slip over depending on what gate the RJ and the Airbus were parked at, as the outdoor RJ gates are near some of the gates used for domestic Airbus aircraft.

  2. FriendlySkies Reply
    January 20, 2011 at 4:20 am

    :rolleyes:

    I just can’t believe they are suing the airport :td:

  3. Matthew Reply
    January 20, 2011 at 12:07 pm

    More details here:

    http://www.examiner.com/airlines-airport-in-national/latest-evidence-shows-boy-fell-from-us-airways-wheel-well

  4. AVS Reply
    January 20, 2011 at 3:58 pm

    I love Americas current take care of me attitude. How in the hell is it the airline or airports fault that you decided to trespass on their property and were hurt in the process. If you don’t want to fall out of an airplane buy a seat inside rather than stealing the fair by hiding in the wheel well.

  5. Matthew Reply
    January 20, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    @AVS and FriendlySkies: I couldn’t agree more–but current tort law at least gives the family a fighting chance.

  6. Grace Reply
    January 20, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    I live in Charlotte and the news constantly shows him in his JROTC uniform. Apparently we’re supposed to feel sorry for him more since he was in the JROTC.
    It’s a horrible story and there must be some security loophole he exploited, but the truth remains that he was using something unintentionally. If I use my car to knock a tree over and my car dies I don’t get to sue the auto manufacturer. He entered a wheel well…what did he expect?

  7. Nick Reply
    January 20, 2011 at 11:15 pm

    The thing to remember is that many cases like this are not because the airline/airport has any real responsibility. The case is because of a lawyer getting to the family and saying that they could receive millions just by suing the “responsible” party.

    I know my roommate who was in a minor accident a few weeks ago where there was only a minor spot of paint transfer was receiving mailings saying that he should sue for negligence and could get a lot of money, even though there was barely any damage, not even an identifiable dent.

  8. FriendlySkies Reply
    January 21, 2011 at 8:11 am

    @Nick, you can blame “sue happy” American for that.. You dented my car? I’ll see you in court!

  9. Matthew Reply
    January 21, 2011 at 8:17 am

    @FriendlySkies: I think our litigious culture in America might change if we imposed the British-style loser pays all courts costs (and attorney’s fees) approach.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • Spirit brawl
    Brawl: Spirit Airlines Employees Drawn Into Gate Fight February 5, 2023
  • runway incursion
    Close Call: Two Airliners Narrowly Avoid Runway Catastrophe February 5, 2023
  • belarus journalist arrested on ryanair flight
    Couple Abandon Child At Airport Over €25 Fee February 5, 2023
  • United Airlines Steakhouse Cheeseburger
    Steakhouse Cheeseburger On United Airlines February 4, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • Hotel Worker entered room
    Woman Demands $3,000 In Compensation After Hotel Worker Walked Into Her Room At Midnight January 24, 2023
  • United Airlines 2023 Status Extension
    United Airlines Quietly Extends MileagePlus Premier Status…Again January 14, 2023
  • United Airlines Polaris Meal Service: The Sad State Of Affairs January 27, 2023

Archives

February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.