United Airlines flight attendant sues Airbus for $30M over alleged cabin fumes  

A United Airlines flight attendant has launched a lawsuit against European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, seeking $30 million in compensation. The lawsuit relates to an incident onboard one of the US-based carrier’s Airbus A319 aircraft involving the alleged inhalation of toxic cabin fumes, which has led to the employee suffering from “serious and lasting health complications.”

On April 11, 2023, the flight attendant was operating as crew onboard United Airlines flight UA2680, which was flying from New York-LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Denver International Airport (DEN) in Colorado. Once the aircraft had safely landed and parked at the gate in Denver at the end of the flight, the flight crew engaged the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit (APU) to maintain air conditioning and electrical systems while the plane was parked on the ground – a routine procedure.

According to the flight attendant’s statement, as reported by travel website PYOK, almost immediately after the APU was engaged, she noticed a strong chemical odor entering the cabin. She rapidly developed symptoms such as choking, burning sensations in her eyes and skin, and intense nausea. Despite attempts to relieve her discomfort by rinsing her eyes with water, the symptoms persisted after all the remaining passengers had left the aircraft.

Robin Guess / ShutterstockThe statement continued that emergency responders at Denver International Airport attended to the flight attendant and recorded elevated blood pressure and increased carbon monoxide levels in both her and another colleague who had also been affected by the cabin fumes. Subsequently, once relocated to a local medical center, a chest X-ray of the flight attendant showed lung irregularities described as a “cloudy” pattern, suggesting chemical irritation or inflammation.

The attendant was treated with supplemental oxygen to ease respiratory distress. After returning home, her condition deteriorated further with severe skin rashes, fainting episodes, and sustained high blood pressure. Blood tests revealed an elevated white blood cell count, signaling systemic inflammation. Further hospitalization was necessary and sought.

According to the particulars of the papers filed with the court in Virginia, once previously in good health, the flight attendant now suffers from chronic headaches, recurrent nosebleeds (which have only recently eased), throat sensitivity, and hypertension believed to be linked to toxic chemical exposure. She alleges that she has sustained damage to her throat lining, consistent with chemical burns, impairing her voice, and that she is currently receiving speech therapy to restore vocal function, crucial for carrying out her duties as a cabin crew member. Additionally, she experiences persistent hypertension and neurological symptoms, profoundly affecting her quality of life and ability to work.

Wenjie Zheng / ShutterstockThe lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Virginia, accuses Airbus of negligence in the design of the A319’s environmental control systems. It contends that the aircraft’s design permits toxic chemicals (such as those emitted by engine oils or hydraulic fluids) to enter the cabin via circulating air, a phenomenon which is exacerbated while the APU is running on the ground.

The suit further claims that Airbus failed to adequately alert airlines and their employees about these dangers or to adopt sufficient safety measures to counteract them or avoid them. It also points out that Airbus planes experience a disproportionate number of “fume events” compared to other manufacturers, indicating inherent design flaws in Airbus systems.

According to the legal team, Airbus has been aware of these risks for years but has neglected to upgrade filtration systems or implement chemical detection technologies to prevent exposure. The lawsuit seeks $30 million to cover medical bills, lost earnings, emotional distress, and punitive damages, holding Airbus accountable for its alleged negligence.

HarrisonKim1 / ShutterstockCabin fumes – a known issue

Contaminated cabin air has been an issue that the aviation industry has been aware of for years, say analysts. Such ‘fume events’ generally occur when chemicals used in aircraft maintenance or when the engines are running leak into the bleed air system supplied to the passenger cabin. Numerous pilots and flight attendants have reported long-term health complications tied to repeated exposure to contaminated cabin air, with various reports and studies looking into the issue.  

Though airlines and manufacturers have often played down such events as minor in their severity, both scientific research and eyewitness reports have indicated that they can cause serious health problems. Legal analysts believe this case could influence future regulatory standards and push manufacturers to take greater responsibility for cabin air safety and the industry will be watching closely what happens with this recent lawsuit.

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