Legal News

A British Airways (BA) pilot who died in 2012 at the age of 43 after alleging that poisonous fumes on the flight deck had caused his ill-health, may be proved right after new research published in the Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry examined his claims.

The Daily Mail reports that Richard Westgate from Edinburgh developed symptoms of confusion, memory loss and loss of brain function.

Before he died Mr Westgate instructed a personal injury lawyer to act for him – and claimed that years of being exposed to poisonous fumes in the cockpit at work had led to his failing health, and ultimately death.

A second British Airways pilot, Lynda Lysakowska, 43, also died in 2012 and alleged that poisonous fumes on the flight deck had caused her debilitating and eventually fatal symptoms.

The two pilots died within days of each other – Mr Westgate was single and had no children. He was a world record-breaking paraglider who died in Amsterdam in December 2012, where he had stopped for treatment on his way to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland, where he planned to end his life.

Civil Aviation records have shown that pilots and flight deck crew have to use oxygen masks in the cockpit at least five times a week as a result of fumes emitted during flights – known as “fume events”.

The new research shows that the organophosphates which caused Mr Westgate’s brain deterioration could have been emitted in the fumes which are released on aircraft flight decks.

The study recently published in the Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry takes into account Mr Westgate’s own evidence. His lawyer is now representing 25 airline workers who are making a claim for ill-health, which they say is the result of regular fume events in aircraft cabins. He told the Daily Mail:

“This scientific research proves that Richard suffered from chemicals called organophosphates which cause chronic brain and other problems.

“This happens because of constant exposure working aboard aircraft.”

Support group the Aerotoxic Association also believes that many airline workers could be suffering ill-health as a result of being exposed to toxic fumes on the flight deck.

Head of the Aerotoxic Association, pilot John Hoyte, said:

“Several air crew are suffering – but this scientific report finally gives us the recognition that exposure to toxins from fuel can cause serious illness.”

Dr Susan Michaelis from Cranfield University in Bedfordshire was a pilot in Australia and is head of research at the Global Cabin Air Quality Executive (GCAQE).

Dr Michaelis is author of Health and Flight Safety Implications From Exposure to Contaminated Air in Aircraft published in 2011 – and she says that the use of bleed air on commercial aircraft “with no form of contaminated air detection or filtration system present” should be discontinued.

Bleed air is air pumped onto flight decks and in passenger cabins as breathing air.

However, bleed air is often contaminated with “synthetic jet engine oils and hydraulic fluids”, says Dr Michaelis.

“The risk to health and flight safety is no longer acceptable,” she adds.

Duncan Lewis Poisoning Claims Solicitors

Duncan Lewis poisoning claims solicitors can advise on making a no win no fee compensation claim for the effects of poisoning at work, at school, on holiday, in public places, or in the home if another party is liable or has been negligent and this contributed or caused the injuries.

Claims which can be made for poisoning compensation include:

• Accidents in the home involving poisonous fumes (eg negligent or illegal gas work in the home, chemical fumes from synthetic furniture and fires in the home, carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty heaters)

• Exposure to fumes at work, including factory accidents or farm accidents (eg oil fumes, paint fumes, chemical spills, negligent use of hazardous materials causing poisoning at work)

• Holiday accidents and poisoning illness (eg carbon monoxide poisoning in holiday accommodation, paint fumes or oil fumes in holiday accommodation)

• Public Liability Claims (eg poisonous fumes in public places such as shops, chlorine fumes at leisure centres and swimming pools, paint fumes at cinemas and theatres, chemical spills in public places which cause injury)

• School accidents involving poisonous fumes (eg chemical fumes in laboratories, fumes from heaters or paint fumes in schools).

Poisoning claims fall within the area of law known as personal injury – and poisoning compensation claims usually have to be made within three years of the injury. Children can make a poisoning claim up to three years after the age of 18.

For expert legal advice on no win no win compensation claims relating to poisoning or poisonous fumes, contact Duncan Lewis Poisoning Claims Solicitors on 020 7923 4020.