Mechanics serve an important role in the aviation industry, helping to ensure safe travel.
If an accident occurs, one may have questions about a mechanic’s liability.
Mechanic’s duties and safety standards
Airline mechanics inspect, repair and maintain aircraft to meet stringent safety standards. Their work follows precise regulations and exact procedures designed to prevent accidents and mishaps. Despite their diligence, a plane crash can still occur, and determining liability becomes a complex matter.
Determining liability in aviation accidents
Liability often involves a combination of factors, such as negligence, manufacturing defects and human error. The latter accounts for 80% of airplane accidents. If a plane crash investigation traces the root cause back to a mechanic’s negligence, they may bear liability.
Mechanic’s negligence
Negligence might include failing to properly inspect and repair crucial components, using substandard parts or failing to adhere to industry-standard maintenance protocols. If any of these actions or omissions can be reasonably linked to the crash, it can lead to liability on the part of the mechanic.
On the other hand, mechanics cannot have liability for factors beyond their control. Mechanical failures stemming from a manufacturing defect or unforeseeable event, such as bird strikes, are typically not within their sphere of responsibility. Aviation authorities must distinguish between these factors when determining liability.
Aviation accidents are often the result of a series of interconnected events and decisions, and it can be challenging to pinpoint a single party as solely liable. The complex nature of the industry means that other stakeholders often share in the responsibility.
