Trending...
- House of Buneau Releases "Pretty Boy Heaven," A Cinematic Exploration of Beauty and Distance
- California and European Commission discuss cooperation to accelerate the global transition to a carbon-neutral, resilient, and equitable future
- KeysCaribbean Offers 'Skip-the-Crowds' Savings With 15 Percent Off April Stays
Plaintiffs seek $100 million in punitive damages for defective design of Boeing 787
ATLANTA - Californer -- By: Jonathan W. Johnson LLC.
Two passengers injured during a terrifying mid-air incident aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner have filed a lawsuit against Boeing, alleging that a defective pilot seat switch caused the aircraft to suddenly lose control during flight.
Nathaniel Deschine and Melanie Deschine filed the complaint in the Court of Common Pleas for Charleston County, South Carolina, seeking compensatory and punitive damages after an incident aboard LATAM Flight LA800 on March 11, 2024.
According to the complaint, the Boeing aircraft abruptly entered a violent nosedive while traveling from Sydney, Australia, to Auckland, New Zealand, causing passengers, luggage, and objects to be thrown into the cabin ceiling and across the aircraft. More than 50 passengers were reportedly injured in the event.
The lawsuit alleges that the incident was caused by a defectively placed seat switch on the captain's seat, which propelled the pilot forward into the aircraft's control instruments and triggered the sudden dive.
More on The Californer
Passengers Report Chaos and Fear of Imminent Crash
The complaint describes a chaotic scene in the cabin as the aircraft dropped without warning.
Passengers who were not wearing seatbelts were reportedly thrown to the ceiling and remained suspended there for several seconds before falling back down onto seats and the floor, causing serious injuries.
According to the filing, many passengers believed the aircraft would crash during the incident.
The pilots ultimately regained control of the aircraft and safely landed in Auckland.
Claims of Known Defect and Safety Failures
The complaint alleges that Boeing knew or should have known about problems involving seat switch malfunctions on pilot seats in Boeing 787 aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration had reportedly received multiple reports related to such malfunctions.
The lawsuit further claims Boeing failed to correct the hazard before passengers were put at risk.
The plaintiffs also cite broader safety concerns involving Boeing, referencing prior regulatory warnings, whistleblower complaints, and past aircraft incidents in arguing that Boeing maintained a corporate culture that placed profits over safety.
More on The Californer
Claims in the Lawsuit
The complaint asserts several legal claims against Boeing, including:
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages for physical and psychological injuries as well as $100 million in punitive damages.
The lawsuit was filed March 5, 2026 in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, Charleston County, South Carolina, where Boeing operates manufacturing facilities. The filing is CASE#2026CP1001164.
The plaintiffs are represented by Jonathan W. Johnson LLC and Motley Rice, LLC. They may be contacted at jwj@jonathanjohnsonatlantalawyer.com. The firm's website is https://jonathanjohnsonatlantalawyer.com
Two passengers injured during a terrifying mid-air incident aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner have filed a lawsuit against Boeing, alleging that a defective pilot seat switch caused the aircraft to suddenly lose control during flight.
Nathaniel Deschine and Melanie Deschine filed the complaint in the Court of Common Pleas for Charleston County, South Carolina, seeking compensatory and punitive damages after an incident aboard LATAM Flight LA800 on March 11, 2024.
According to the complaint, the Boeing aircraft abruptly entered a violent nosedive while traveling from Sydney, Australia, to Auckland, New Zealand, causing passengers, luggage, and objects to be thrown into the cabin ceiling and across the aircraft. More than 50 passengers were reportedly injured in the event.
The lawsuit alleges that the incident was caused by a defectively placed seat switch on the captain's seat, which propelled the pilot forward into the aircraft's control instruments and triggered the sudden dive.
More on The Californer
- California: Governor Newsom announces judicial appointments 3.27.2026
- Legal Powerhouses, Dance Drama, and Romance: Meet the New Platform Debuting This April
- Pet Furniture Meets Interior Design: Wooffy Redefines the Role of Dog Homes in Modern Living Spaces
- City to Add No-Cost Preschool to West Facilities Center in West Long Beach
- Snell & Wilmer Attorneys Emily Cheung and Kina Wong Appointed Co-Leads of CALA-OC Young Lawyers Cmte
Passengers Report Chaos and Fear of Imminent Crash
The complaint describes a chaotic scene in the cabin as the aircraft dropped without warning.
Passengers who were not wearing seatbelts were reportedly thrown to the ceiling and remained suspended there for several seconds before falling back down onto seats and the floor, causing serious injuries.
According to the filing, many passengers believed the aircraft would crash during the incident.
The pilots ultimately regained control of the aircraft and safely landed in Auckland.
Claims of Known Defect and Safety Failures
The complaint alleges that Boeing knew or should have known about problems involving seat switch malfunctions on pilot seats in Boeing 787 aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration had reportedly received multiple reports related to such malfunctions.
The lawsuit further claims Boeing failed to correct the hazard before passengers were put at risk.
The plaintiffs also cite broader safety concerns involving Boeing, referencing prior regulatory warnings, whistleblower complaints, and past aircraft incidents in arguing that Boeing maintained a corporate culture that placed profits over safety.
More on The Californer
- Long Beach: El Dorado East Regional Park Offers Tips for Visitors on Easter Sunday, April 5
- Classified Employees of the Year Celebrated Across the Ventura County Community College District
- House of Buneau Releases "Pretty Boy Heaven," A Cinematic Exploration of Beauty and Distance
- Bobotails Launches Premium Matching Harness Collections for Small & Medium Breed Dogs
- Homeowner Prep Announces Strategic Language Shift: Replacing "Renters" with "Future Homeowners" to Inspire Wealth-Building Mindsets
Claims in the Lawsuit
The complaint asserts several legal claims against Boeing, including:
- Negligence
- Strict product liability
- Breach of warranty
- Failure to warn
- Violations of federal aviation safety standards (pled in the alternative)
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages for physical and psychological injuries as well as $100 million in punitive damages.
The lawsuit was filed March 5, 2026 in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, Charleston County, South Carolina, where Boeing operates manufacturing facilities. The filing is CASE#2026CP1001164.
The plaintiffs are represented by Jonathan W. Johnson LLC and Motley Rice, LLC. They may be contacted at jwj@jonathanjohnsonatlantalawyer.com. The firm's website is https://jonathanjohnsonatlantalawyer.com
Source: Jonathan W. Johnson LLC
0 Comments
Latest on The Californer
- Mobile App Developers in California California Web Coders Builds High-Performance Apps for Modern Bu
- California Lutheran University Taps Pandemic Response Leader as Chief Strategy & Growth Officer
- For April Fools' Day: A poem about The Secret to Happiness! The secret is "Don't Say Nuthin'"
- Long Beach: Meredith Reynolds Appointed as Acting Director of Technology and Innovation Department
- California: Governor Newsom announces CHP crackdown: 12,600 arrests, 6,400 stolen cars recovered, 25 million deadly fentanyl doses seized in two years
- Award-Winning REALTOR® Paige Coker Joins Corcoran DeRonja Real Estate
- License Plate Owner Lookup API Goes Live on RapidAPI and Postman Public Network
- Over 98% of crypto owners globally don't declare taxes, new report find
- TicTac Group acquires French EdTech company Distrisoft
- TL Foundation Supports Connect's 2026 Cool Companies to Strengthen San Diego's Innovation Economy
- Equestrian Expert Rominger Receives National Recognition Through the INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD®!
- Scientology Network Celebrates International Day of Happiness with Global Marathon
- New Platform Helps Gig Workers Avoid Paying Taxes on Income They Never Received
- Comedian Marc Yaffee Headlines Willits High School Sober Grad Fundraiser Show
- California: Governor Newsom convenes leaders to confront crisis facing boys and men
- Governor Newsom launches campaign to recruit young men, and all Californians, to serve communities and gain job skills
- VCCCD Announces Ventura College Presidential Finalists
- Squeegex Expands Window Cleaning and Exterior Services Across 30+ San Diego Neighborhoods
- Long Beach: City Recognizes Tsunami Preparedness Week 2026: Know the Risk. Know the Route.
- Mark Dobosz Makes Donorassess.org Free To Every Nonprofit On The Planet