Firm News

Aviation Accidents

• Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 Crashes on Takeoff in Lebanon
  Jan 26, 2010

  
  Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 crashed of the coast of Lebanon in the Mediterranean Sea with 90 people on board.
  
  The flight, which originated from the Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, was headed for the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa when it disappeared from radar shortly after takeoff.
  
  The Boeing 737-800 had seven crew members and 82 passengers -- 51 Lebanese nationals, 23 Ethiopians, two Britons and citizens from Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Canada, Russia and France.
  
  Lebanese authorities did not immediately know the cause of the crash but also do not suspect any foul play.
  
  The Government-owned Ethiopian Airlines is one of the largest in Africa. Several African carriers are not allowed in European air space because of past safety records not being up to normal safety standards., Ethiopian Airlines serves three other continents as well as Europe for a total of 56 destinations.
  
  The airline has experienced two fatal crashes since 1980.    - 91 - 100

• FAA Watching American Airlines Closely After Botched Landings
  Jan 06, 2010

  
  The FAA has heightened its scrutiny of American Airlines after three incidents involving the carrier between December 13 and December 24.
  The review was begun after the December 24 landing of an MD-80 in Austin, Texas, wherein the plane struck a wingtip.
  On December 22 a Boeing 737 overran the runway in Kingston, Jamaica and injured 91 passengers.
  Another incident on December 13 involved an MD-80 that went off the left side of the runway at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.
  A spokesman for the FAA stated that the agency is using the review of these incidents to determine if they were caused by a "larger issue."
  
  If a family member or other loved one has been the victim of an aviation disaster you need an experienced aviation attorney.  Please call or click to speak directly with B. Keith Williams.    
  
  Online - Click Here
  Toll Free - 1.866.820.4457
  Nashville - 615.313.3999
  Lebanon - 615.444.2900      - 92 - 100

• American Airlines Flight 331 Crashes in Jamaica
  Dec 24, 2009

  
  American Airlines flight 331 left the runway in Kingston, Jamaica, crashing through a sand bank stopping a few feet from the Caribbean Ocean. 
   
  The Boeing 737 aircraft with 156 people on board originated in Washington, D.C., stopped in Miami before attempting to land in heavy rain and turbulence at Norman Manley International Airport in Jamaica. 
  
  The aircraft broke into 3 pieces and the landing gear on one side of the plane appeared to have collapsed.  Reports indicate that dozens were injured.
  
  If a family member or other loved one has been the victim of an aviation disaster you need an experienced aviation attorney.  Please call or click to speak directly with B. Keith Williams.    
  
  Online - Click Here
  Toll Free - 1.866.820.4457
  Nashville - 615.313.3999
  Lebanon - 615.444.2900    - 93 - 100

• Sparta TN Bound Plane Crashes Outside Atlanta
  Oct 31, 2009

  
  A Sparta TN bound twin engine Cessna airplane crashed shortly after takeoff from Gwinnett County Airport, outside Atlanta.  The pilot and one person on the ground in Lawrenceville, GA were killed. 
  
  
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• Keith Williams Tennessee Aviation Attorney Files $40 Million Suit Over Helicopter Crash
  Oct 31, 2009

  
  Keith Williams Tennessee aviation attorney filed a $40 Million suit for the crash of a Middle TN helicopter crash.  
  
  The defendants sued include: Noble Aviation, LLC; Sevier County Choppers, LLC; RediAir, LLC; Robinson Helicopter Company; Lycoming Engines; AVCO Corporation; Textron Inc.; and Ellen L. Harvey-Smith. Lycoming Engines is a Pennsylvania company, Robinson Helicopter Company is located in California, and AVCO and Textron are both Delaware corporations.
  
  The lawsuit holds that the "dangerous and defective condition" of the helicopter led to the crash.
  
  
  
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• Delta Flight Lands on Taxiway Instead of Runway in Atlanta
  Oct 23, 2009

  
  Delta Airline's flight 60, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport landed was cleared to land on Runway 27R but landed instead on Taxiway M, which runs parallel to the runway.  The flight had 194 passengers and crew on board.  
  
  Thankfully no other aircraft were on the taxiway when the Boeing 767 made the taxiway landing.  A collision, particularly with one plane preparing to take off and carrying a full fuel load, would be catastrophic.    
  
  Both  27R and Taxiway M are 11,890 feet long but the runway is marked with white lights while the taxiway is marked with blue lights.  
  
  The pilots of the plane that landed at the Atlanta airport have been relieved from flying duties pending investigation by the FAA and the NTSB.  Delta announced that it was as conducting an internal investigation. - 96 - 100

• Ft. Campbell Soldiers Killed In Colorado Helicopter Crash
  Sep 25, 2009

  A MH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter crashed in Colorado killing four Fort Campbell-based Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 160^th Special Operations Aviation Regiment members. The soldiers were killed while conducting mountain and environmental training near  Mount Massive. Those killed in Wednesday's crash were Chief Warrant Officers 4 Terrance Geer, 40, of Casper, Wyo.; and Robert Johnson, 41, of Seattle; and Staff Sargents Paul Jackson, 33, of Lancaster, Md., and Chad Tucker, 28, of Titusville, Fla.
   
  The "Night Stalkers", as they were known, was created more than 20 years ago after a failed mission to rescue hostages in Iran, which resulted in two helicopter crashes and eight deaths. This regiment's primary purpose is to get Special Forces soldiers, Army Rangers and Navy SEALS into some of the most dangerous areas in the world for covert operations using the cover of nightfall and keeping low to the ground to avoid radar detection.
  
  Currently the regiment has four battalions, two based at Fort Campbell, one at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., and one at Fort Lewis, Wash. They use a variety of helicopters including Black Hawks, Chinooks and AH-6 Little Birds. The unit has played a large role in Iraq and Afghanistan, suffering several casualties in 2005 and 2007.
  
  If a family member or other loved one has been the victim of an aviation disaster you need an experienced aviation attorney.  Please call or click to speak directly with B. Keith Williams.    
  
  Online - Click Here
  Toll Free - 1.866.820.4457
  Nashville - 615.313.3999
  Lebanon - 615.444.2900    - 97 - 100

• Hudson River Crash Results In FAA Suspending Two Air Traffic Controllers
  Aug 19, 2009

  Two air traffic controllers in Newark, New Jersey were suspended by the FAA following an in air collision of a small Piper Airplane containing pilot Steven Altman, his brother Daniel and Daniel Altman's son Douglas and a sightseeing helicopter carrying five Italian tourists and a pilot. The controllers have been placed on administrative leave and disciplinary proceedings have begun.
  
  While flying over the Hudson River the pilot of the Piper Airplane, Steven Altman, was electronically cleared and transferred to the Newark, New Jersey's air traffic controllers at Teterboro Airport. Immediately following this transfer, Newark's control tower was to be given the standard verbal confirmation from Altman, but never received.   
  
  Thus far, only statements have been made in regards to the conduct of the air traffic controller and the tower supervisor being absent at the time when the two aircraft suddenly collided but nothing has yet to be definitely determined pending further investigation. At this time, no certain actions have been contributed to the cause of the accident.  
  
  The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are further investigating this matter to determine the contributing factors before releasing any specific conclusions drawn from their investigation.  - 98 - 100

• Southwest Flight 2294 - Williams Law Group Retained by Two Families
  Aug 04, 2009

  Two families have retained B. Keith Williams to further investigate the circumstances of the near tragic  incident of Southwest Flight 2294.
  
  Southwest flight 2294 was traveling from Nashville, TN to Baltimore, MD when the passengers were forced to experience a life-changing event.  The Boeing 737-300 made an emergence landing in Charleston, WV after an explosive and sudden decompression of the cabin while at 34,000 feet. This sudden cabin decompression was caused when the fuselage ripped open forming a 17 inch hole near the rear of the airplane.
  
  Passengers reported that following an explosion like sound, the air masks were deployed and the crew told the passengers that they were too far from an airport to make it and to prepare for a crash landing.  While making a "diving descent," and enduring "a very loud deafening sound" passengers were terrified to look out the windows to see nothing but the mountains of West Virginia below. 
  
  Attorney B. Keith Williams is a board certified Civil Trial Specialist with a focus on Tennessee aviation accident cases.  His firm, The Williams Law Group, has offices located in Nashville and Lebanon, Tennessee.
  
  If you, a family member or other loved one was on board Southwest Flight 2294 and would like to speak with an experienced aviation attorney,  please call or click to speak directly with B. Keith Williams.    
  
  Online - Click Here
  Toll Free - 1.866.820.4457
  Nashville - 615.313.3999
  Lebanon - 615.444.2900 
  
    
  
  
  - 99 - 100

• Latest Iranian Plane Crash Kills16 – Injures 21
  Aug 04, 2009

  Another Russian-made airliner, Aria Airlines flight 1525,  skidded off the runway in Mashhad, Iran and caught fire as it made a hard landing.  Sixteen people were killed in this Iranian commercial plane crash.  Twenty One passengers were injured in the crash.
  
  It was the nation's second deadly plane accident in two weeks.  Caspian Flight 7908 crashed less than two weeks prior near Qazvin in North Eastern Iran, claiming 168 lives.  
  
  A photo of the latest crashed airplane which was released by the state run news media showed the nose of the aircraft sheered off.  A spokesperson for the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization, stated that the plane struck a wall after skidding off the runway.  
  
  It was further reported that the tires of the Ilyushin-62 may have failed upon landing.  
  
  If a family member or other loved one has been the victim of an aviation disaster you need an experienced aviation attorney.  Please call or click to speak directly with B. Keith Williams.  
   
  Online - Click Here
  Toll Free - 1.866.820.4457
  Nashville - 615.313.3999
  Lebanon - 615.444.2900   - 100 - 100