West Caribbean Airways McDonnell Douglas MD-82 Crash
Summary of Accident
On August 16, 2005, West Caribbean
Airways charter flight 708 traveling from Panama to Martinique
crashed in Venezuela after its engines failed, resulting
in the loss of all 160 passengers and crew.
The airplane, a McDonnell
Douglas MD-82, was en route to the French Caribbean island
of Martinique when it requested a change in its route to
land at Chinita Airport in the western Venezuelan city
of Maracaibo due to engine problems.
Accident Investigation
On November 22, 2005, the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a report on
their investigation of the crash. According to their findings,
the cause of the crash was ice on the wings. The plane's
black box had recorded the cabin crew discussing bad weather
conditions and the possibility of ice on the wings. The
NTSB report also said that both engines showed evidence
that the rotors were turning at a high speed at the moment
of impact.
The Legal Rights of Families Whose
Loved Ones Die in Airplane Disasters
We appreciate that this is a time
of deep pain and grieving for the spouses, children and
families of the passengers and crew who died in the West
Caribbean Airways crash. In the coming weeks, you will,
however, have questions concerning how and why the crash
occurred, your legal rights, compensation that is available
to you, and the duties and legal responsibility of West
Caribbean Airways and Boeing Corporation, the American
manufacturer of the plane. For answers to frequently asked
questions concerning aviation accidents, please click
here.
Contact Lieff Global
Families whose loved ones died
in this crash are welcome to contact Lieff Global to learn
more about their legal rights without any charge or obligation.
Please send us an e-mail
message.
Alternatively, you may telephone us toll-free at 1-800-541-7358
in the U.S., or 1-415-788-8000 from outside the U.S., and
request to speak to attorney Lexi Hazam.
About Lieff Global, LLP
Lieff Global, LLP, is an AV-rated law firm with
offices in San Francisco and affiliate offices worldwide. Lieff Global
grew out of the rapid expansion of the international and aviation practices
at Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, which Robert L. Lieff founded in 1972. Lieff Global represents survivors and families of victims who died in domestic and international aviation and maritime accidents, as well as foreign citizens in other types of actions.
Lieff Global is uniquely positioned to answer your questions and represent your interests. Our attorneys have over forty years of experience litigating airplane crash cases worldwide. We have relationships with the foremost experts in the fields of aviation safety and disaster analysis. Learn more...
Families
whose loved ones died in the West Caribbean Airways
disaster are welcome to contact
a lawyer at Lieff Global to learn
more about their legal rights. We welcome the opportunity
to answer your questions free of charge, without
obligation and in strict confidence.
