The widow of one of the men killed in Sunday’s Amazon cargo plane crash in Miami has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging multiple failures led to the disaster that claimed five lives.
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Yaraisi Santiso Morejon, whose husband Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo was killed in Sunday’s crash at Miami International Airport, filed the lawsuit in Miami-Dade on Wednesday, naming Amazon, cargo carrier 21 Air, the two pilots and others as defendants.
Rodriguez Naranjo, 53, was one of five people who were killed when the cargo jet ran off a runway and struck a van and SUV.
The van was carrying seven employees of an airline cleaning contractor, including Rodriguez Naranjo. Five of them were killed, while two survived, and five other people were injured, three of them critically.
Pilots Jaime Felipe Silva Molina and Joseph Carol were hospitalized and later released.
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The cause of the crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board but the lawsuit claims it was preventable.
“This disaster was not an unavoidable accident. It was the foreseeable and preventable result of multiple, concurrent failures: pilot error by Defendants Joseph Carroll and Jamie Felipe Silva Molina in attempting a high-speed, tailwind-affected landing while failing to execute a mandatory go-around; a systemic failure by Defendants Amazon and 21 Air to ensure adequate pilot training, fitness, and sound aeronautical decision-making; the deployment of a 32 year-old aircraft by all pertinent Defendants whose braking, thrust reverser, and spoiler systems are under active NTSB investigation,” the suit said.
The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $50,000.
In a statement Wednesday, an Amazon spokesperson said every aircraft in their fleet is operated and maintained by a Federal Aviation Administration certificated air carrier under an FAA-approved operations and maintenance program.
“Our deepest sympathies remain with the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating tragedy. The NTSB is on the ground at Miami International Airport conducting their investigation. We’ll fully cooperate with them and support any other investigating authorities and we’ll also continue to coordinate with 21 Air, which operated the flight. Amazon leaders are also meeting with local officials, first responders, and others in the community to offer our support,” the statement read.
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