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2 survivors sue over fatal plane crash on Tinian
The widow and child of a man who was among three persons killed during a plane crash on Tinian in October 2013 filed a lawsuit in federal court yesterday.
Lisha Gu and Yuxin Wu are suing Tinian Transportation Management Solutions Inc., Star Marianas Air Inc., plane pilot Luis Silva, and 10 unnamed co-defendants, for wrongful death, negligence, loss of consortium, and infliction of emotional distress.
Gu and Yuxin Wu were among the four survivors of the crash. Gu’s husband, Xuan Wu, was one of three persons killed in the crash. Yuxin Wu is the minor daughter of Gu and the deceased Xuan Wu.
Silva and a 26-year-old female Chinese tourist were the two other fatalities.
Gu and Yuxin Wu, through counsel Colin M. Thompson, asked the U.S. District Court for the NMI is demanding unspecified damages, court costs, and attorney’s fees.
The Piper Aircraft being piloted by Silva crashed three miles north of the Tinian International Airport on Oct. 6, 2013 at 2:51am, completely destroying the plane. Xuan Wu was killed, while Gu and Yuxin Wu sustained injuries.
Thompson said the Saipan-bound aircraft descended to an altitude of 302 feet, turned 180 degrees, and collided with a jungle-covered hill at an elevation of 450 feet.
Thompson said the last radio communication showed Silva asking traffic control for weather condition information.
Thompson cited other air crashes involving Star Marianas Air aircraft, including a Nov. 19, 2012, crash involving a Piper 32-300 flying between Saipan and Tinian, which killed one and injured six others. The six survivors, all Chinese nationals, filed last year a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against the pilot, Jae Choi, Star Marianas Air Inc., Marianas Air Travel, Tinian Transportation Management Solutions Inc., Tianing Travel Agency, Top Development Inc., and 100 unnamed co-defendants.
