American passenger sues airline claiming he broke his ankle while letting someone go to the bathroom

Passenger claims ankle injury due to severe turbulence.

An American Airlines passenger has filed a lawsuit against the airline, alleging that he suffered a broken ankle after turbulence caused him to fall while allowing a fellow passenger to access the bathroom.

The plaintiff, Gael Severoni, a resident of Maryland, asserts that the incident took place during a flight from Washington DC to New Orleans in August 2023. According to the lawsuit, Severoni was seated in an aisle seat when his neighbour requested to pass by and use the lavatory. As Severoni stepped into the aisle to accommodate the request, the plane encountered a sudden and severe patch of turbulence. This unexpected jolt caused Severoni to lose his balance and fall, resulting in a fractured fibula in his left ankle.

The lawsuit claims that the flight crew did not instruct passengers to remain seated or fasten their seatbelts until after the incident had already occurred. Severoni accuses American Airlines of negligence for failing to avoid the area of turbulence and for not adequately warning passengers about the impending rough air. The suit also alleges that the airline violated federal aviation regulations by not ensuring the safety of its passengers during the flight.

This lawsuit emerges amid increasing concerns about the frequency and severity of turbulence incidents. Experts have linked the rise in turbulence to global climate changes, with some predicting that such occurrences will only become more common in the coming years. These concerns were highlighted earlier in the year when a Singapore Airlines flight experienced severe turbulence, causing the aircraft to plunge 178 feet in less than five seconds, tragically resulting in a passenger’s death.

In response to these growing concerns, airlines have implemented measures to better protect passengers from the dangers of turbulence. These measures include stricter enforcement of seatbelt usage and the development of artificial intelligence systems designed to predict and avoid turbulent areas. Despite these advancements, accurately forecasting turbulence remains a challenge, leading experts to advise passengers to keep their seatbelts fastened throughout the flight to avoid injury.

As of now, American Airlines has not provided a response to the lawsuit or to inquiries from the media regarding the incident. The outcome of Severoni’s legal action remains pending as it moves through the courts.