A Chicago law firm that specializes in aviation-related suits has announced it’s launching an action against both Southwest Airlines and the city of Chicago over an accident earlier this month at Midway Airport (which is owned by the city). The Nolan Group is representing Bonnie James, a passenger on the Boeing 737-700, which skidded off a runway and onto a road while landing in a snowstorm. Attorney Donald J. Nolan said the flight should have been diverted and he also pointed out the absence of a runway overrun arresting system at Midway. “What makes this accident even worse is that runway overruns such as this are preventable with technology already in place at similar urban airports,” Nolan said in a statement. “Engineered Material Arresting Systems (EMAS) … have proven effective in averting such disasters.” The soft concrete overruns have trapped three aircraft at Kennedy Airport in New York. A six-year-old boy riding in a car hit by the plane was killed. His family has also filed suit. The plaintiff in this case was among those taken by ambulance to the hospital after the crash. She has not returned to work. Nolan said mild brain trauma is common in people involved in such accidents and, while they might not appear injured, it can cause long-lasting effects. Nolan also said he hopes the suit “will draw attention to the systemic weaknesses in place to protect the safety of our air travelers.”
