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An American Airlines passenger said he broke his ankle when he stood up to let someone else use the bathroom.
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He is suing the airline for failing to warn its passengers about turbulence.
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The lawsuit came amid growing concerns about extreme turbulence.
A passenger is suing American Airlines because he allegedly broke his ankle when he got up from his seat to let someone else use the restroom.
Gael Severoni, a Maryland resident, said he was injured when he crashed during turbulence on a flight from Washington, DC to New Orleans in August last year, according to a lawsuit filed with the District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
The lawsuit comes amid growing concerns about extreme turbulence, with an aviation expert previously telling Business Insider that such cases are increasing due to the climate crisis.
Severoni, who was sitting in an aisle seat, says in the lawsuit that his neighbor in the middle of the row asked him to get up so he could go to the bathroom.
When Severoni stepped into the aisle to let him pass, the plane encountered “severe turbulence,” according to the lawsuit, causing Severoni to fall to the ground and fracture his left ankle.
Severoni says cabin crew did not instruct passengers to remain seated and fasten their seat belts until after his fall. He accuses American Airlines of failing to avoid turbulence, failing to adequately warn passengers and violating federal aviation regulations.
Following the death of a passenger on board a Singapore Airlines plane in May that plunged 54 metres (170 feet) in five seconds, severe turbulence has become a growing concern for airlines and travellers.
Airlines have taken measures to protect their passengers from sudden jolts and shocks, including stricter seat belt requirements and the use of artificial intelligence to predict turbulence.
However, it is still difficult to predict exactly when turbulence will occur. One former pilot warned that passengers should always keep their seat belts fastened as unexpected disruptions can occur in the air.
American Airlines did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider outside of normal business hours.
Read the original article on Business Insider
