US airlines to be sued for Twin Towers’ collapse
American Airlines and United Continental are likely to be sued by the owners of New York’s World Trade Center over the destruction of the twin towers in the 9/11 attacks.
Bloomberg reported that the carriers have lost a bid to avoid a federal trial over negligence claims connected to the hijackings.
World Trade Center Properties LLC, which owned the skyscrapers, sued the airlines in 2008 for ‘allowing’ terrorists to hijack the aircraft that were flown into the buildings. A judge in New York agreed yesterday that a trial is required. Bloomberg reported the judge as saying that the company is seeking damages of US$8.4 billion, or the estimated cost of replacing the two towers.
American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center respectively on 11 September 2001, causing both towers to collapse.