Boeing sued over alleged toxic fume exposure
Terry Williams, a veteran American Airlines employee, says after an M-D 82 jet landed, a smoky mist spewed from the ventilation system and immediately made her sick.
Williams claims she hasn't felt well ever since, constantly falling victim to chronic pain, including tremors, relentless migraine and vision problems.
"I feel like I can't play with my children because the pain is so bad that I'm often left in tears," she said. "I was healthy prior to the event, and now I have continuous, debilitating problems."
Williams and her attorneys blame toxic exposure, and point to the system through which air is pumped into passenger cabinets through the jet engine. The suit alleges the system is defective, and air funneled through the engine is heavily contaminated.
"We believe the hazard is preventable. Sensors and filters are available. It's up to the aircraft manufacturers to put them on," said attorney Mike Withey.
That responsibility, the complaint alleges, falls on Boeing, which owns McDonnell Douglas, the company that built the MD-82.
But Boeing doesn't see the alleged threat.
"We believe that the air in airplane cabins is safe," Boeing spokesperson Bernard Choi told KOMO News.
Williams, a flight attendant of 17 years, said she once thought the same thing.
"I believed that the airlines would be safe. I believed that the FAA wouldn't allow an aircraft to go out and contaminate people with toxic chemicals," she said.
The woman who so enjoyed flying is now grounded. And her husband feels helpless, watching her suffer.
"That's the problem. It's so hard. There's nothing that can be done," said Gary Williams.
A group of flight attendants filed a similar lawsuit against Boeing seven years ago, claiming toxic air was being drawn into the cabins. A jury decided the company was not liable for their health problems.