While commercial aviation is still one of the safest ways to travel, mistakes do happen.
If the airplane is privately owned, then the laws that apply would be similar to that of an auto accident. But in addition to the "rules of the road," private airline accidents often involve a malfunction, which means the manufacturer could also be liable. Private aircraft are covered under the term "General Aviation" and include Air Ambulances: there have been several fatal crashes involving air ambulances and that industry is coming under increased scrutiny.
However, if the injury occurred in a commercial airliner, an entirely different set of rules apply.
The airline industry is heavily regulated and inspected, and airlines are generally considered to be high reliability organizations. Due to the nature of these organizations they must run extremely efficiently in order to provide prompt, and safe service. Unfortunately, they are run and operated by human beings which means that mistakes can and do occur. Men and women in the work place can make poor decisions; the airline as a whole can make poor decisions, and at times they may fail to adhere to the high standards set by the regulatory commissions. Airline disasters are rare, but thousands of passengers are still injured in a variety of accidents every year, both "in flight" and in the airport.
If you or someone you know has been injured in an airplane accident, or have suffered damages due to the actions or negligence of an airline you may be entitled to monetary compensation.
