Survivor Sues Scottsdale Over Deadly Learjet Crash
A passenger who survived a fatal Learjet crash at Scottsdale Airport in February 2025 has filed a lawsuit against the City of Scottsdale and several aviation-related parties, alleging negligence in aircraft parking procedures and airport operations.
The crash occurred when a Learjet 35A veered off the runway during landing and collided with a parked Gulfstream G200. The accident resulted in the death of the Learjet’s pilot and injuries to others on board. The lawsuit claims that airport authorities allowed the Gulfstream to be positioned dangerously close to active runway and taxiway areas, contributing to the severity of the collision.
According to the complaint, the Gulfstream was parked “in the path of the wayward” Learjet, and the city failed to ensure adequate separation between parked aircraft and operational surfaces. “A reasonable municipality prevents collisions between planes by ensuring that parked planes are kept at a reasonably safe distance from the airport’s runway and taxiways,” the suit alleges.
In addition to the city, the lawsuit names the Gulfstream’s pilot, the company responsible for towing the aircraft into position and other entities involved in owning or managing the jet. A separate legal filing from the Gulfstream’s insurer similarly alleges improper parking and raises questions about the Learjet crew’s landing procedures, including the non-deployment of a drag chute.
At the time of the accident, Scottsdale Airport officials indicated that the Learjet appeared to suffer a left main landing gear failure before the collision. A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board found that the aircraft touched down with full flaps, entered a left-wing-low attitude and departed the runway surface. The jet then crossed a taxiway and struck the parked Gulfstream.
The NTSB report also noted that the Learjet was not equipped with thrust reversers and that the drag chute was not deployed during landing. Investigators documented that the left main landing gear separated during the landing sequence, a factor that may have contributed to the aircraft’s loss of directional control.
The lawsuit underscores ongoing legal and operational scrutiny following the crash, as investigators continue to examine the sequence of events and whether airport layout and aircraft positioning played a role in the fatal accident.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, avweb.com