Roma (left) and Reeva Gupta.Photo: GoFundMe
A new lawsuit claims the death of a woman who was involved in aNew York plane crashwas “entirely preventable” and alleges the plane was flown for profit despite having known safety concerns.
The complaint claims that the mother and daughter had signed up for “what was supposed to be a joyous and unforgettable flight lesson” that ultimately “turned into a nightmare” when the plane went down during its final approach.
Roma, 63, did not survive the crash, nor did the pilot of the plane. Reeva, 33, sustained “catastrophic injuries,” but survived.
The defendants — 2 BA Pilot NYC and its parent company Danny Waizman Aviation, a flight school in Farmingdale, N.Y., as well as Danny Waizman, Republic Aviation and Robert Gainor — are accused of “gross negligence, recklessness, and utter disregard for safety.”
The complaint claims Roma’s death was “preventable” and alleges the defendants “knowingly operated an unsafe aircraft, despite repeated warnings of smoke in the cockpit just weeks before the crash.”
“Instead of grounding the plane and addressing the known mechanical defects, the defendants willfully ignored glaring red flags and continued to profit from an operation that had no meaningful safety protocols, emergency response plans, or oversight,” the document states.
Additionally, the complaint claims the defendants “have a well-documented history of cutting corners, disregarding safety complaints, and exposing unsuspecting passengers and students to life-threatening conditions.”
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In a statement, the Gupta family called for a criminal investigation into the case and urged the District Attorney “to act,” claiming that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report “confirms that the owner of this flight school ignored warnings, used unapproved aircraft parts, and repeatedly prioritized profits over safety.”
They also alleged that the plane being in the air was not a “mistake,” but rather “a deliberate decision to cut corners, violating the fundamental duty of care owed to every person who steps onto an aircraft."
“We trust that the justice system will do its part to hold those responsible accountable — not just in civil court, but in criminal court — so no other family has to endure what we have suffered,” the Gupta family stated.
Attorneys Jordan Strokovsky, Ian Gallo and Mark Shirian, who are representing the Gupta family, claimed in a statement that the “tragic” crash was “the foreseeable consequence of gross negligence and a failure to prioritize human life over profit.”
“This lawsuit is about exposing these failures and ensuring that no other family has to endure such a devastating loss due to willful negligence,” they added.
Representatives for the defendants did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
source: people.com
