A passenger is suing American Airlines after he said he broke his ankle while getting out of his seat to let someone use the bathroom.
Maryland resident Gael Severoni said he was injured after falling during a bout of turbulence while flying from Washington DC to New Orleans in August 2023, according to a lawsuit filed in Eastern District Court of Louisiana.
The suit comes as concerns rise over extreme turbulence, with an expert previously telling Business Insider that such cases are on the rise due to global warming.
Severoni, who was sitting in an aisle seat, said in the lawsuit that his neighbor in the middle of the row asked him to stand up so he could go to the bathroom.
Per the suit, when Severoni stepped into the aisle to let him pass, the aircraft hit a patch of “severe turbulence,” causing him to fall to the floor and fracture a fibula in his left ankle.
The lawsuit says cabin crew did not instruct passengers to remain seated and fasten their seatbelts until after Severoni had fallen. It accuses American Airlines of failing to avoid the patch of turbulence and failing to properly warn passengers, and violating federal aviation regulations.
Severe turbulence has become a growing concern for airlines and travelers following the death of a passenger aboard a Singapore Airlines flight which plunged 178 feet in under five seconds in May.
Airlines have taken steps to ensure passengers are protected from sudden jolts and bumps, including tightening seatbelt rules and using AI to predict turbulence.
However, it is still difficult to predict exactly when turbulence will happen, with one former pilot warning that passengers should keep their seatbelts on at all times as in-air disruption can be unexpected.
American Airlines did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.
