Attorney in airport lawsuit says UPS crash highlights larger safety issue

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - 

Four plaintiffs suing UPS and the Birmingham Airport Authority (BAA) after a recent plane crash held a press conference Tuesday with their attorneys.

The Aug. 14, 2013 crash killed both pilots. UPS and the Birmingham Airport Authority are named as defendants.

Attorney Andy Campbell further explained the lawsuit recently filed in court as well as shared pictures of damage to multiple homes allegedly caused by the UPS plane crash.

"We believe this is a case that has vital public importance, not only to our clients but to the community," said.

Campbell says the public needs to understand how the airport authority has continued to allow these large planes to continue to use a shortened runway, thus creating an "area of risk."

He says the crash was caused by UPS and also by "the actions and omissions of the Birmingham Airport Authority over the years."

"Acting together, the two essentially put our clients in a danger zone of a direct approach of a plane coming in to the runway," said.

Campbell and his team contend that the runway is too short and has inadequate lighting to accommodate larger planes like UPS Flight 1354, and says it's unreasonable that the airport authority hasn't bought these homes when they've bought all the other homes around them.

He says his clients are in a danger zone that is not only physically dangerous but causes them mental stress, and has destroyed the value of their homes, making it nearly impossible to move.

In addition, Campbell says the damage done to his clients' homes by the crash has "rendered the homes worthless."

"My clients are not seeking more than what the value of their property is before it was essentially taken by the airport authority," Campbell said.

He adds that clients deserve to be paid the value of their homes and deserve to be out of danger.

Since the accident, Campbell says no one from the airport authority has contacted his clients but UPS has contacted some of them.

A spokesperson for the airport released this statement Oct. 11:

"The Birmingham Airport Authority has been served the lawsuit. Airport Authority does not make comments on pending litigation."

A UPS spokesperson released this statement Oct. 11:

"The accident was a tragic situation for UPS, our pilots and their loved ones, and the Birmingham community. However, UPS does not discuss legal proceedings."

To view the full lawsuit, click here.

Story and Video:  http://www.myfoxal.com

NTSB Identification: DCA13MA133
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 121: Air Carrier operation of UNITED PARCEL SERVICE CO
Accident occurred Wednesday, August 14, 2013 in Birmingham, AL
Aircraft: AIRBUS A300 F4-622R, registration: N155UP
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On August, 14, 2013, at about 0447 central daylight time (CDT), United Parcel Service flight 1354, an Airbus A300-600, N155UP, crashed short of runway 18 while on approach to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (KBHM), Birmingham, Alabama. The two flight crew members were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. The cargo flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 121 supplemental and originated from Louisville International Airport, Louisville, Kentucky.