The investigation of the American Airlines plane crash in Jamaica continues

Investigators look into whether the pilot could have avoided the crash landing and saved dozens of people from injury—including many Americans

Experienced New York aviation accident lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter, reports that the investigation of the American Airlines plane crash in Jamaica continues. American Airlines Flight 331 departed from Miami with 148 passengers on board when it crashed at an airport in Kingston, Jamaica December 22, 2009, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Federal Aviation Administration along with Jamaican officials continues to probe the plane crash that injured 91 passengers on board the Boeing 737-800 en route to Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport. Investigators look into whether the pilot could have avoided the crash landing and saved dozens of people from injury-including many Americans.

Jamaican Civil Aviation Authority officials on the case believed that the pilot could have aborted the landing and circled around the landing strip another time and avoided the accident. Authorities continue to look at all the possible factors involved in the aircraft's crash landing. Investigators are asking the question why the pilot did not consider other options; especially since runway take-offs and landings are the causes of the majority of aviation accidents and fatalities. In this particular aircraft crash, the plane skidded off the runway and its fuselage broke open; the left side of the plane collapsed and the plane's front end was crushed. The aircraft came to a halt at the edge of the Caribbean Sea injuring 92 passengers. There were 154 passengers on board at the time of the aircraft crash.

Investigators continue to probe the crash by interviewing the crew and the passengers. They are also factoring weather and flight controls into the investigation. While there were other airplanes that landed safely the night the Boeing crashed, the weather conditions were unpredictable that Tuesday night. The offshore approach lights to the runway had been malfunctioning for more than a month, forcing the pilot to land the aircraft with the assistance of runway lights. Bloomberg news reported that all the runway and threshold lights had still been functioning and the pilots were informed of the offshore light's outage. It has not been determined if lighting did play an active role in the accident, but every detail is being reviewed. Also being considered is the possibility that a tailwind landing may have been a contributing factor, as that could have increased the distance it would take to stop the aircraft. Multiple investigators from the U.S National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) www.ntsb.gov were also assisting in the developing investigation to what went wrong with the airplane. The investigation continues.

Aviation accidents can be overwhelming and traumatic for the victims and their families and many are at a loss as to what steps to take or where to turn for help after the crash. A New York aviation accident attorney can help victims and loved ones begin the healing process by helping them to understand their rights, navigate the complex legal process and work to gain compensation for their injuries caused by the tragic accident. It is important to contact a veteran airline accident lawyer that is familiar with the complex technical and legal issues associated with these types of cases to represent you in court.

Report by New York aviation accident attorney Jonathan C. Reiter, a New York personal injury lawyer experienced in representing victims of airline accidents. www.jcrieterlaw.com/ Phone: (212) 736-0979.

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