CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) Flight Attendant Darlene Fricchione is suing Airbus over a cabin air incident that occurred aboard United flight UA2680 at Denver International Airport (DEN). She claims exposure to contaminated air caused severe and lasting health effects.
According to PYOK, the lawsuit alleges that Airbus’s design of the A319 aircraft led to the toxic air event. Fricione seeks $30 million in damages, citing negligence and failure to warn about known risks.
Photo: By Colin Brown Photography – https://www.flickr.com/photos/145232442@N02/48375074401/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81315086United Flight Attendant $30M Lawsuit
On April 11, 2023, Darlene Fricchione, a United Airlines (UA) flight attendant, worked on Flight UA2680 from LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Denver International Airport (DEN).
After landing, when the aircraft was parked at the gate, the captain activated the auxiliary power unit (APU) to supply cabin air conditioning.
Within seconds, Fricchione was exposed to contaminated air with a chemical smell, causing immediate gagging, choking, and burning sensations in her eyes and skin.
The 23-page legal complaint details how Fricchione poured water over herself and gargled to alleviate symptoms, remaining on the aircraft until all passengers deplaned.
Emergency responders found elevated blood pressure and carbon monoxide levels in Fricchione and a coworker.
At a clinic, an X-ray revealed a “cloud” on her lungs, and she received oxygen therapy. After returning to LaGuardia, her condition worsened with intensified rashes, fainting, high blood pressure, and an elevated white blood cell count, requiring hospitalization.
Fricchione, previously healthy, now suffers from persistent headaches, nosebleeds (until recently), throat hypersensitivity, and potential chemical exposure-related high blood pressure, as noted by medical specialists.
Photo: By aeroprints.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32564347Lawsuit Details
The lawsuit was filed in a Virginia district court, accusing Airbus of negligence in aircraft design and failing to warn or properly train flight crews about the risks of contaminated air.
The claim also references a broader pattern: Airbus aircraft allegedly experience more such incidents compared to other manufacturers due to inherent design vulnerabilities.
Darlene’s legal team asserts that Airbus has long been aware of the risks but failed to implement safety measures.
Suggested solutions, like chemical sensors in air conditioning systems or stronger filtration, have yet to be adopted, even as scientific and medical evidence supporting the dangers grows.
Flight attendants and passengers have reported “fume events” or “odor events” for years, though terminology varies.
Campaigners describe these as toxic incidents, while manufacturers often downplay them as mere odors.
Regardless of the name, the effects can range from mild discomfort to serious, life-altering health issues.
Photo: Colin Brown | FlickrOngoing Recovery
Following the incident, Darlene was hospitalized with high blood pressure and an elevated white blood cell count.
She continues to suffer from chronic symptoms. Specialists, including pulmonologists and cardiologists, attribute these health issues to chemical exposure.
She is currently undergoing speech therapy to address throat damage likened to chemical burns.
The lawsuit claims Airbus should have known about the increased risk when using the APU on the ground and failed to redesign or improve filtration to prevent such occurrences.
Darlene is seeking $30 million in punitive damages, citing long-term physical, emotional, and professional harm.
Despite requests, neither Airbus nor United Airlines (UA) provided comments on the matter.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
Former United Pilot Loses Lawsuit Over $1M Damage from 767 Hard Landing
The post United Airlines Flight Attendant Files $30M Lawsuit Against Airbus appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
