Plane Passenger Who Claims Foot Was Crushed by Runaway Beverage Cart Sues Airline – ryan

A Republic Airways passenger has filed a lawsuit against the airline after what he claims is an inconceivable incident.

In a complaint obtained by PEOPLE, passenger Dalton Sim, 54, says he was on a flight operated by the regional carrier in June 2023 from Boston Logan International Airport en route to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

As the plane touched down on the runway at JFK and rapidly decelerated, he claims a service cart barreled down the aisle from behind Sim’s seat and slammed into his protruding foot, smashing it against the left side of the seat in front of him.

According to the filing, the cart allegedly injured multiple passengers before flipping over and coming to a stop. Due to the incident, Sim says he suffered severe injuries, including “numerous disabling crush fractures and a deep wound that required months of intensive medical treatment.”

Republic Airways did not immediately reply to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Republic Airways is a regional commercial air carrier based in Indianapolis that operates flights under the American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express names. Sim’s was operating as American Airlines Flight 4286.

Sim’s complaint argues that the flight attendants were negligent in their duties to secure the cart properly, as outlined by the Federal Aviation Regulations, and to act quickly to keep passengers safe as the incident occurred.

Though the complaint does not list exact damages, Sim is seeking “a sum that exceeds the jurisdictional limits of all lower Courts, which indicates, he is aiming for monetary damages that are over $150,000, according to the Certification of Arbitration.

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Sim’s attorney Erin Applebaum said, “We’re proud to seek justice on behalf of Mr. Sim for the life-changing injuries he suffered due to the inexcusable negligence of Republic Airways personnel.”

Her statement continued, “This shocking incident never should have happened. We look forward to uncovering exactly what went wrong and holding the airline fully accountable for the harm they caused.”