In The News

WJZ TV 13 news with Maryland Law Firm partner Keith Franz explaining the continuing problems that Southwest Airlines has experienced with holes being blown out of its aircraft while in-flight. 

A hole blown in the roof of the fuselage of Southwest Flight 812 last Friday requiring an emergency landing at Yuma AZ Marine Corps Air Station was caused by insufficient maintenance that did not detect metal fatigue cracks and caused a five (5) foot section of the jet to rip off of the aircraft at 34,000 feet.  This is not the first time a Southwest 737 has experienced an in-flight fuselage emergency. 

Two years ago SW Flight 2294 from Nashville to Baltimore was required to make an emergency landing in West Virginia when a football sized hole in the roof depressurized the cabin and caused considerable damage.  That incident followed an historic $7.5 million fine that Southwest paid for failing to properly and timely inspect its fleet for metal fatigue. 

The explosion this past Friday underscores the importance of regular competent inspections and maintenance, areas of considerable concern for all of the flying public as pressures to keep older aircraft in service becomes common in the airline industry. 

Azrael Franz is grateful that the news media recognizes our firm for its expertise and leadership role in aviation law and industry standards.  Our commitment to victims of airline disasters as well as those injured from other causes is of paramount importance to our firm’s efforts and central to our firm’s success.      

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