Nolan Law Group(R)

Call For A Free Consultation: 312-820-2071

Nolan Law Group(R)
312-820-2071
Helping Injured People And Their Loved Ones For Over 40 Years

Air Cargo Accident Attorneys

While commercial aviation disasters often attract more media attention, the impact of air cargo crashes is no less devastating. These complex operations rely on an interconnected chain of workers and neighboring communities. When a system fails, the consequences ripple across every level.

Flight crews face tight deadlines and high-pressure schedules. This leaves them on the front lines when mechanical or operational failures occur in midair. On the ramp, tarmac workers, mechanics and logistics contractors face severe hazards from shifting loads, ground equipment errors and hazardous cargo during routine ground operations. Meanwhile, motorists on adjacent roadways and residents in nearby flight-path communities face sudden, catastrophic harm when an aircraft or hazardous payload falls short of its destination.

At Nolan Law Group, we tailor our legal approach to the distinct needs of each group. We help ensure that no victim’s rights are treated as an afterthought.

Uncovering True Liability Beyond Workers’ Compensation

All air cargo accident victims deserve the same dedicated representation focused on finding the truth and holding responsible parties accountable. Yet, claims of pilots, crew, tarmac staff and logistics workers are often discounted as simply workers’ compensation claims because they were on the job. We dig deeper to find not only the root cause but all contributing factors that result in these accidents.

Our firm looks beyond standard employer benefits to pursue third-party claims against all responsible entities:

  • Third-party product liability: Faulty avionics, defective engine components, structural failures or improper cargo-securing systems that fail in transit.
  • Corporate contractor negligence: Subcontracted maintenance oversights, improperly declared hazardous cargo or third-party miscalculations of load weight and center of gravity.
  • Airport facility and runway safety failures: Hazardous tarmac conditions, improper runway maintenance and air traffic control or navigational lighting failures that compromise safety for ground staff and flight crews alike.

By identifying every point of failure, we fight to secure the full compensation and justice our clients truly deserve.

Representing Families And Crew In Cargo Crash Litigation

Nolan Law Group is currently evaluating air cargo accident cases involving:

  • Overloading
  • Misloading
  • Dangerous cargo
  • Scheduling and pairing of crew
  • Antiquated or defective equipment
  • Maintenance failure
  • Poor weather conditions

We are very knowledgeable about the effects of overloading, misloading or center of gravity miscalculations, as well as issues associated with defective equipment and dangerous cargo. Our attorneys apply the same processes for constructing winning cases that they would for commercial aviation accidents and have been successful in protecting the interests of our clients on numerous occasions.

Cases Our Attorneys Have Worked On

Nolan Law Group has successfully prosecuted air cargo accidents involving multiple liability issues, including:

  • AAR Aircraft & Engine Group / Fleet Business Credit (2000): The victims’ families secured a $165,000,000 settlement after Air Philippines Flight 541 crashed into a hill on Samal Island, killing 131 people. Nolan Law Group represented 47 families across 110 wrongful-death claims. They proved the companies supplied an outdated warning system (GPWS) that gave pilots only four seconds of warning on local terrain, compared to the 30 seconds a modern EGPWS provides.
  • National Air Cargo, Inc. (2013): Impacted families won a $115.75 million jury verdict (including $5 million for pre-impact fright) alongside additional financial settlements after a Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Improperly secured cargo broke loose on takeoff and crushed internal flight controls. This forced the plane into an immediate stall, killing all seven crew members.
  • Boeing Company (2018): Victim families received financial compensation following the loss of Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 MAX 8.
  • Asiana Airlines (2013): Passengers and families achieved a financial settlement after a Boeing 777-200ER struck the airport seawall short of the runway while landing.
  • Aeroflot Nord (2008): Families across 41 wrongful death claims obtained financial recovery after Aeroflot Flight 821 crashed near Perm, Russia, killing everyone on board. Investigators attributed the crash to pilot disorientation and inadequate training on Western flight instruments.
  • TANS Peru (2005): A total of 39 survivors and victim families secured financial recovery following the crash of Flight 204 near Pucallpa, Peru. The team successfully defeated motions aimed at transferring the litigation to Peru.
  • Kandahar Airfield Helicopter Operator (2009): Filipino civilian workers received financial compensation after dying in a Russian-made helicopter crash in Afghanistan. The Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) incident occurred while supporting U.S. forces.
  • Robinson Helicopter Company (2010): A financial resolution was reached while on appeal for the family of Governor Rafael Nantes. Governor Nantes survived the initial helicopter crash but died when ruptured fuel cells flooded the cabin and ignited a post-crash fire.
  • Reach Medical Holdings, Inc. (2003): Families received financial recovery after a Bell Model 222 medical helicopter hit a radio tower in Aurora, Illinois, killing the passengers. The aircraft lacked a proper Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS).
  • Cessna Aircraft Company (2007): Surviving families of passengers obtained financial recovery after a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan crashed near Naches, Washington. The aircraft’s deicing systems failed to prevent severe ice accumulation. This led to a complete loss of control.
  • Martinair (2004): Passenger families received financial recovery after a Cessna Citation 560 crashed due to a defective deicing system that failed to shed ice buildup.
  • Cessna Aircraft Company (2003): An injured pilot obtained financial compensation after his Cessna 172N lost control and crashed. Defective seat tracks unlocked mid-flight, causing the pilot’s seat to slide backward away from the controls.
  • Kelly Aerospace, Inc. / Lycoming Engines (2002): A pilot who suffered a severe brain injury and permanent disability received financial compensation. A defective Lycoming engine on his Piper aircraft caused oil starvation, leading to total power loss and a crash into a house trailer.
  • Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (2001): Deceased passengers’ families reached a financial recovery after a DeHavilland DHC-6-100 crashed. Turbine blades inside the compressor separated mid-flight, causing engine failure, fire and a fatal impact.
  • Woodward Governor Company (1998): The estate of a pilot and his wife received financial recovery following a crash in Los Cerrillos, New Mexico. Improperly set engine controls caused low fuel flow and uneven engine power, resulting in a loss of control.
  • Modern Aero (2001): The estate of a pilot killed during takeoff achieved a settlement after the aircraft suffered a mechanical engine failure during climb.

In total, we have represented nearly three dozen pilots and crew members or their families from more than a dozen all-cargo carrier crashes.

Call Us Today To Discuss Your Case

If you, or someone you love, has been injured in an air cargo aviation accident and would like the attorneys at Nolan Law Group to review your case, please contact us today. You can schedule a consultation by calling 312-820-2071 or by filling out our online form here.