Caribbean Airlines facing lawsuit in NY over Guyana crash

A passenger on the Caribbean Airlines (CAL) flight that crashed and split in two in Guyana last year is suing the airline in a New York court, claiming that injuries she suffered in the crash stemmed from the airline's negligence.

Nandine Persaud was a passenger Flight BW523 from New York City to Georgetown, Guyana, via Trinidad on the July 30, 2011. 

The Boeing 737-800 overran the end of the runway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, broke through a fence, fell onto a road and broke apart. None of the 157 passengers and six crew members died, but many were injured.

Persaud's legal claim is that she suffered mental anguish, fear of impending death, and severe and disabling injuries. She is seeking damages for her injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and loss of earnings and earning capacity.

In her lawsuit Persaud is claiming that the crash "was caused by the negligent servicing, maintenance, repair, operating and piloting of the subject aircraft".

The evidence from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority that investigated the crash does not support the claim. 

The preliminary findings state that "the primary contributing factor in this accident was that the aircraft made a long landing and touched down with insufficient runway remaining to come to a safe stop." A final report is due before the end of the year.