Avalon, CA – According to KSEE, five people lost their lives in a plane crash on Tuesday evening, October 10, 2024, shortly after takeoff from Catalina Airport, located on Santa Catalina Island off the Southern California coast.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that all five adults on board were found dead at the crash site, which is located about a mile west of the airport in steep, rugged terrain. Emergency responders faced challenges reaching the remote location, nestled among the island’s elevated hills.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports that, around 8 PM, just moments after departing from the island’s well-known “Airport in the Sky,” the twin-engine Beechcraft 95 went down. The crash occurred under what the FAA described as “unknown circumstances,” and both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the incident.
Authorities were alerted to the crash after a 911 call from a cell phone linked to one of the passengers. The phone’s GPS coordinates led first responders to the wreckage. Despite the quick response, all five individuals were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators will continue working to determine the cause of the crash.
Single-Vehicle Liability for Aircraft
In some cases, investigations following a crash may reveal that negligence on the part of others may have contributed to the accident. When it comes to aircraft, this might involve equipment error for which the manufacturer may be responsible or improper maintenance performed by other parties.
Comparative Negligence
California Law upholds the concept of Comparative Negligence, which allows more than one party to share blame in a personal injury accident. Injured victims may have their compensation reduced if they are found partially to blame.
Passenger Liability for Aircraft
Just like drivers of motor vehicles, aircraft pilots are required to carry liability insurance to cover damages they may cause while flying. This includes any harm toward passengers under the pilot’s care.
While it may seem emotionally challenging to make a Wrongful Death Claim against someone with whom the passenger was likely personally acquainted, possibly even related, the loss of a loved one can leave their families with a sudden financial burden that ought to be covered by the parties responsible for that death.
A skilled personal injury attorney can help grieving families to sort through issues of liability and negotiate on the victim’s behalf with insurance providers, who will attempt to minimize the pay-out of any claim that they cannot deny.
