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Ungrateful Flyers
Townhall.com ^ | 1/30/09 | Mike Gallagher

Posted on 01/30/2009 11:53:44 AM PST by TruthHound

The headline in USA Today gave me a sinking feeling: “US Airways Gives Passengers On Flight $5000.00 Each -- Passengers Wonder, Is it Enough?”

Is it enough?

Is anything ever enough anymore?

It is absolutely, positively inconceivable that anyone aboard the miraculous US Airways Airbus whose pilot made a safe water landing after birds were sucked into the engines would expect US Airways to fork over a ton of money to them.

This was one great story: a pilot makes a split-second decision to ditch into the frigid waters of the Hudson River, a decision that saved everyone on board from certain death.

But it didn’t take long for the vultures to swarm, the heads to spin with visions of big dollar signs, and the pure greed to hijack this otherwise-wonderful tale.

One disgruntled flier who got a bloody nose and some bruises says it’s still too early to decide just how emotionally distressed he is as a result of the incident.

“I just want to be made whole,” he sniffed to a reporter.

Already US Airways has written checks for $5000.00 apiece to each and every passenger to cover any and all “immediate needs” they may have from having lost their luggage and other belongings.

I’m a frequent flier who often travels with a laptop, nice headphones, even some partial radio equipment and I know that $5000.00 would more than cover anything I might lose on an airplane.

Furthermore, the airline has promised that their insurance carrier will cover any and all losses of property that exceed $5000.00.

Not good enough, some of these miserable people are saying.

Kreindler and Kreindler, a New York-based law firm that specializes in aviation accidents, reports that “several” of the passengers on the flight have already contacted the firm.

I wonder how long it took those folks to stop thanking God for His decision to spare their lives from what should have been a fiery, horrible end before they Googled the best law firm to sue the pants off US Airways?

I might be a lone voice in the wilderness on this, but I don’t think US Airways owes any of these people one red cent.

If a natural disaster like a flock of birds or a bolt of lightning causes a plane’s engines to fail, you know what should be expected? That the pilot will keep his or her wits about them and do their best to save each and every soul on board.

That’s precisely what Captain “Sully” Sullenberger and the rest of his crew did. They managed to bring a crippled plane safely into a river where everybody got out, safe and sound.

And now, people are grumbling that five grand just isn’t cutting it.

If big, fat settlements result from these greedy passengers or we see a slew of lawsuits filed, this should become the model for tort reform in America.

We simply have to reign in the piggish people and money-hungry lawyers who chase every ambulance they see and expect companies and individuals to pay for everything that goes wrong.

Even hinting about a lawsuit in this story smacks of a shakedown. People are savvy enough to know that simply a threat of litigation is tantamount to a nice, hefty check.

Really, this must stop.

By all accounts, US Airways has handled this entire accident with graciousness and compassion and class.

Anyone aboard US Airways Flight #1549 who considers suing the airline or strong-arming it for more money should be ashamed of themselves.

And worried, too.

Karma can be a bad thing. After all, many of those people might want to take their ill-gotten gains and jet off to some exotic destination to celebrate. And if a flock of birds hits their plane again, maybe they won’t be so lucky.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: airlines; flight1549; ingrates; survivors; tortreform; usairways
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Litigiousness is the grease on the moral slide in America. Not every mishap should be a cash cow for opportunistic gluttons and their bottom-feeding attorneys. Our collective greed is long overdue for a slap-down by the hand of God himself.
1 posted on 01/30/2009 11:53:44 AM PST by TruthHound
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To: TruthHound

Thank you, Lord for allowing me to live to sue,Amen!


2 posted on 01/30/2009 11:55:42 AM PST by Dr. Ursus
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To: TruthHound

‘I just want to be made whole,” he sniffed to a reporter.’

I’d say we are better off with this guy remaining half an asshat, rather than a ‘whole one’.

Maybe its just me....


3 posted on 01/30/2009 11:56:15 AM PST by Badeye (There are no 'great moments' in Moderate Political History. Only losses.)
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To: TruthHound
"Karma can be a bad thing."

Final Destination IV.

4 posted on 01/30/2009 11:59:27 AM PST by Deaf Smith
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To: TruthHound

They should all mail their checks to Sully the Hero of the Hudson! Seriously. He made aviation history; they should be greatful to him for the rest of their lives.

My 7th grader told me last night there is already a video game out called “Hero of the Hudson” where you land on the water. Can’t believe those programmers did that so fast, tested it, and got it in stores already.


5 posted on 01/30/2009 12:02:44 PM PST by olivia3boys
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To: TruthHound
Photobucket

Got this in an email yesterday. Maybe those that want to sue ought to look at this and think again!

Thanks Sully..Thank you Lord!

6 posted on 01/30/2009 12:03:11 PM PST by HomeschoolMomma (YES SHE CAN! Sarah Palin 2012)
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To: TruthHound

Morons like these will try to legislate against mother nature and GOD himself.

Just goes to show how far we’ve fallen from the mindset of personal responsibility and how we’ve embrace the notion that lawyers can “solve” everything.

Preposterous!!


7 posted on 01/30/2009 12:05:02 PM PST by subterfuge (BUILD MORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NOW!!!)
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To: Deaf Smith

Maybe some of these lucky asshats could sue the do-gooders who allow the non-migrating Canada geese to remain like panhandling bums in city parks.


8 posted on 01/30/2009 12:05:19 PM PST by QBFimi (When gunpowder speaks, beasts listen.)
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To: subterfuge

You mean like Al Gore?


9 posted on 01/30/2009 12:11:21 PM PST by TruthHound (A Republican who acts conservative will whip the snot out of Democrat who acts liberal EVERY TIME!)
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To: Badeye

His wife is probably thinking-Dang, I just missed out on the
Litigation Lotto.


10 posted on 01/30/2009 12:11:38 PM PST by Dr. Ursus
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To: Dr. Ursus

Assumption being he’s married of course.


11 posted on 01/30/2009 12:12:44 PM PST by Badeye (There are no 'great moments' in Moderate Political History. Only losses.)
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To: Badeye

Maybe his life-time partner?


12 posted on 01/30/2009 12:15:50 PM PST by Dr. Ursus
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To: TruthHound

“Kreindler and Kreindler, a New York-based law firm that specializes in aviation accidents, reports that “several” of the passengers on the flight have already contacted the firm.”

The passengers contacted the law firm? Or was it the other way around?


13 posted on 01/30/2009 12:15:50 PM PST by Old Grumpy
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To: TruthHound
One disgruntled flier who got a bloody nose and some bruises says it’s still too early to decide just how emotionally distressed he is as a result of the incident. “I just want to be made whole,” he sniffed to a reporter.

This is disgusting. I would take a bloody nose for $5k any day; I've had quite a few for free. He's made more than whole by this generous payment. In his position, I would thank US Airways sincerely and donate the money (less the value of any lost luggage) to my church. This baby needs to grow up.

14 posted on 01/30/2009 12:18:55 PM PST by MathDoc (Don't blame me, I voted for Governor Palin and the wrinkly white-haired guy)
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To: TruthHound; Mrs. B.S. Roberts

There is a Jewish prayer of thanks said specifically to thank GOD for “bringing me through danger”. I’m not sure about other religions, but most likely there is an similar prayer of thanksgiving. Now it seems that one does NOT go to one’s knees in prayerful contemplation and thanksgiving—rather one sits in the lawyer’s office in prayerful contemplation of court awards. God does NOT have a short temper, but one of these days..............


15 posted on 01/30/2009 12:20:03 PM PST by CaptainAmiigaf (NY Times: We print the news as it fits our views)
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To: Dr. Ursus

Makes him whole...or hole?

Ewww. Never mind.


16 posted on 01/30/2009 12:23:21 PM PST by Badeye (There are no 'great moments' in Moderate Political History. Only losses.)
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To: QBFimi; TruthHound
Maybe some of these lucky asshats could sue the do-gooders who allow the non-migrating Canada geese to remain like panhandling bums in city parks.

Very well said, I was thinking the same thing while reading the posts.

Maybe they should also sue some of the animal rights and anti-hunting groups (USHS), they seem to have unlimited funds for lawsuits that could be used to settle suits against them.

17 posted on 01/30/2009 12:30:37 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: TruthHound
Give the whiners a million dollars in pennies and dump them in the Hudson with their bags of money.
18 posted on 01/30/2009 12:32:22 PM PST by KarlInOhio (On 9/11 Israel mourned with us while the Palestinians danced in the streets. Who should we support?)
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To: TruthHound

My position is that any-one not liking their settlement with USAIR can freepmail me and I will take the check off their hands....I will pay all taxes and be satisfied with what remains....any takers(or “givers”)?


19 posted on 01/30/2009 12:35:25 PM PST by mdmathis6
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Ping to self to save and send.


20 posted on 01/30/2009 12:41:27 PM PST by NoGrayZone (Just Registered With the Conservative Party...RINO's can kiss my......)
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