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It was more than 10 years ago, but when I think hard about my own near-death experience, it feels like it happened yesterday.
While driving on the New Jersey Turnpike to my parents home in Teaneck, an unmarked construction barrier in the center lane caused traffic to go from about 60 mph to around 20.
The car in front of me swerved in to the slow lane, but it was too late for me. I jammed on my brakes, narrowly missing the barrier. I did a 360 degree spin around the barrier, missed a Shop Rite truck but a few feet and came to a stop in the middle lane - facing oncoming traffic.
Talk about saying some prayers that night before going to sleep.
That experience makes me quite sensitive to the story of the woman who is suing American Airlines for giving her a near-death experience of her own when a jet she was traveling on slid off a runway.
But instead of simply thanking God she is still in one piece, Jewel Thomas of Seattle has decided to sue the airlines, claiming she was traumatized by the near crash at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in 2008.
Thomas says in a lawsuit against the airline that she suffers from severe mental and emotional problems, even though no physical injuries were reported among the passengers or crew. She adds that she is no longer able to fly and sometimes will "freak out" when she hears an airplane.
I won't belittle Thomas' plight but something just doesn't smell right. If everyone involved in a near-death accident on a plane was allowed to sue, we wouldn't have an airlines industry.
I understand how seeing your life flash before your eyes can leave you shaken, but I don't think you can rightfully sue an airline if you "freak out" when you hear a plane, accident or no.
In her negligence lawsuit against the airlines and its crew, Thomas contends the flight crew knew the plane's electrical system was damaged and allowed a battery system to run out of power until critical systems began to fail.
Thomas wasn't alone on that flight, so she wasn't the only one terrified at the prospect of her life ending in a fireball. It's her right to sue the airlines if she really thinks the crew was negligent, but I'm sure they were doing the best they could to save the passengers - and their own lives.
But unless serious negligence is found, the airline can't be held responsible if she can no longer fly or bugs out when she hears a plane. I hate to sound harsh but that reaction is on her.
Comments: (7)
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By: tired of POOR ME attitude on 9/03/2010 5:39PM
Suing because she is a gold digger? She is just another loser who wants to get what she can. Typical attitude. She needs to get in a real plane crash and then sue. I will buy her a ticket on an African air line (they have the worst safety record) and hope for the best.
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By: The Truth on 9/03/2010 9:59PM
She said herself she has issues.
Any attorney would take her case if she pays them.
They definitely will not take the case for a percentage because common sense tells all of us she can't win.
Just another frivolous case clogging up an already overburdened court system.
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By: meliabenedict on 9/04/2010 12:52AM
When the danger became urgent, Thomas Blood found means to get over into Holland, where he was well received, and admitted into great intimacy with some of the most considerable persons in the republic, particularly Admiral de Ruyter.
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By: ch on 9/04/2010 7:03PM
Hold up 2 years ago??? You're fine and most folks are scared to fly anyways. How many times have I almost got in a fatal car accident? I pray to God and keep it moving.
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By: Eric on 9/05/2010 7:42PM
Oh, please! Here we go again!....lol...lol Seems like this nonsense is turning into an almost daily event! With yet another "gold digging" black woman here trying to as per usual get over! More and more people are really focused in on the appalling behaviors of black women always wanting to play the victims,and always trying to run a SCAM! Then, they continue to wonder why nobody wants to be with them!
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By: BK on 9/06/2010 12:52PM
I just want to say after reading this article and seeing all the news press about this incident that occurred in 2008...I am saddened by the types of insensitive comments that people are writing concerning Mrs. Thomas’ emotional stress after the event. Every time you turn on the TV all you seem to hear about are air planes that are crashing or having technical issues that are putting its passengers in harm’s way. Flying is always a risk just like walking down the street or driving your car. The only difference is, you have control of your actions when you are the one in the drivers’ seat. But when you are a passenger on an airplane, you rely on the crew to make the correct decisions; and act according to the FCC manual on what to do in the event of any mechanical failures that may occur during the flight. In this case, anyone can see after reading all the reports from the FCC as well as expert airline pilots...there was definitely fault on the side of the airline and its pilot. They did not follow the correct procedures...period!
So is it Mrs. Thomas's fault or the airlines? Just recently the airline was fined several million dollars for flying faulty planes with KNOWN electrical issues! So in this case, are we to say that the FCC is wrong for citing the airlines? Was the FCC wrong in the investigation and their findings from experts within the aerospace industry? Hmm? Nowhere in any of the blogs and comments from readers have I seen it mentioned that the FCC is wrong for citing American Airlines. Why is that? But they are quick to write negative comments about a passenger that had to live through a very dramatic experience that she will have to live with for the rest of her life! I am just thankful that Mrs. Thomas is a very spiritual woman, and keeps God first in everything she does. Even in the news conference both her lawyer and herself made several comments and/or accounts to where she talked about praying to the Father. And my comment to her is keep God close in your heart…and remember they talked bad about Jesus. In fact, man crucified him. So if he could withstand all the criticism and backlash, then so can you. “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles” Psalm 34:17
In parting, I just want to say…stay strong Mrs. Thomas! Take every negative comment that is being said about you and your situation, and lay it down at God’s feet. He has your back. “For when He is with you, who shall be against you”. “For with Him, nothing shall be impossible” Luke 1:37
May God continue to Bless you and keep you close to Him.
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By: Greg on 9/06/2010 2:38PM
Forget the airline, she should sue whoever did her hair and makeup.
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