American Airlines fined £70,000
07/06/2010
American Airlines has been fined £70,000 for an accident at Heathrow Airport in which a worker lost a leg.
Ground support worker Kulwant Bhara was run over by a 70-tonne tug vehicle used to move planes in 2008.
The 45-year-old, from Slough, Berkshire, had to have his right leg amputated following the incident, the Old Bailey heard.
The tug had no audible alarm for reversing in the dark or specific reversing lights, the court heard.
Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said: "These two factors contributed significantly and it should have had both."
The airline admitted two charges under health and safety legislation law.
The judge said the company had missed opportunities which could have prevented the accident.
American Airlines had just three such vehicles at Heathrow and the modifications would have taken seven hours and cost £1,000, the court heard. "These deficiencies should have been addressed long before this accident and two opportunities to do so were missed back in 2007," said the judge.
He noted that there had been two similar accidents in the United States and said: "It is regrettable that American Airlines in London knew nothing about these incidents."
The company was fined £70,000 and ordered to pay over £10,000 in costs.
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