British Airways sues Chicago O’Hare over aircraft damage

British Airways (BA, London Heathrow) has filed a USD3.2 million lawsuit against the City of Chicago after three of its B787s were allegedly damaged by construction debris left on a runway at Chicago O’Hare last year.

In the case filed on November 29, 2021, at the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, British Airways accuses the city of negligence, saying it violated its lease agreement at the airport by not properly inspecting the runways and taxiways, reports The Real Deal.

The airline charges that debris from the ongoing USD1.2 billion expansion of Terminal 5 was ingested into the engines of its aircraft between November 30 and December 1, 2020, causing damage that resulted in USD3.2 million of repairs and in the cancellation of several flights. The damaged engines had required complete teardowns and inspections. British Airways is seeking reimbursement of what it paid for in repairs as well as damages and attorney’s fees.

Both British Airways and O’Hare declined to comment as the matter was in litigation.