By Greg Kaminsky, Staff Writer
A lawsuit has been filed in San Diego Superior Court after a mid air collision between two planes resulted in multiple fatalities.
Michael Copeland, a Qualcomm executive, was piloting a Cessna carrying four others when it collided with a Saberliner jet near Brown Field Municipal Airport.
The lawsuit names the air traffic control company Serco Inc. and one of its employees as defendants who were negligent when clearing the planes for landings and takeoffs.
“We believe the air traffic controllers failed to maintain a proper, safe distance between the two aircrafts,” said attorney David S. Casey Jr. “Additionally, the jet was approaching from above and behind the Cessna, and due to its position, should have been able to clearly see the smaller plane.”
Also named in the lawsuit is the Saberliner jet’s owner and operator, BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services, based out of Maryland.
“The lawsuit alleges that all the defendants were careless and failed to maintain situational awareness over the status of the Cessna, ultimately resulting in Copeland’s tragic death.”
