“Already we have aviation experts examining the crash and given the early information, it appears to be clear that this crash was completely avoidable” said Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices in Chicago and lead counsel in the crash of a Boeing 737 six years ago, where he represents 74 victims of all 157 who were killed on that tragic flight. “It appears that catastrophic uncontained engine failure on the left side followed by loss of control perhaps due to a combination of hydraulic system compromise, low airspeed and pilot failure to cope with very complex failure scenarios.”
Bob Clifford has spoken to numerous members of the media about the cargo jet crash, including Anita Blanton, host of Fox News’ streaming live show “Chicago Live” regarding the UPS cargo jet crash that killed 14 people an injured many more. Clifford spoke of “graveyard engineering,” a phrase often used to indicate that changes do not occur until there are deaths involving a fatal tragedy. He also compared the UPS cargo jet crash when the left engine detached from the aircraft to that of the 1979 American Airlines crash at O’Hare Airport when the left engine detached shortly after takeoff killing all 271 on board and two people on the ground. Clifford was actively involved in that litigation as well as every major commercial airline crash in the United States in the last four decades.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all MD-11 aircraft Saturday, Nov. 8, effective immediately until a further investigation is concluded. “The FAA is issuing this AD [Airworthiness Directive] because the agency has determined the unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design,” according to a directive issued by FAA Acting Deputy Executive Director of Aircraft Certification Service, Mallory A. Naill.
It is estimated there are 82 MD-11’s in operation throughout the world with 70 in the United States.