Families of China Airlines crash victims sue airline and Boeing

Airline Industry Information, May 28, 2003

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Families of passengers killed in a China Airlines crash in May 2002 have filed a lawsuit against the carrier and aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

The lawsuit claims that the aircraft had design flaws which were compounded by faulty maintenance. The plaintiffs believe that the 22-year-old Boeing 747-200B aircraft crashed into the Taiwan Strait, killing all 225 passengers and crew members on board, due to "structural, mechanical and other failures".

The aircraft had departed from Taiwan's Chiang Kai Shek International Airport bound for Hong Kong when it broke into about four pieces after 20 minutes of flight, according to Reuters.

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