Tragedy at Wings Over Dallas Air Show: Family of WWII-Era Plane Collision Victim Files Lawsuit
In a heart-wrenching incident that shook last year’s Wings Over Dallas Air Show, six lives were tragically lost when two WWII-era planes collided midair in front of a packed Texas crowd. Among those who perished was Len Root, a retired American Airlines pilot, who, along with four crew members, was aboard a B-17 bomber when it collided with a P-63 fighter plane in November.
The aftermath of the collision has led Root’s family to take legal action against the organizers of the air show, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). The family’s representative, Kevin Koudelka, expressed their determination to uncover the truth behind the disaster: “We need the lawsuit to get into what happened and who is responsible for that. Second part of that is who is responsible? What happened? Who is wrong? And why did this happen? And hold them accountable.”
The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the air boss, who is referred to as the “quarterback calling the plays for the event” by Koudelka. The air boss, believed to be hired by CAF, gave the green light to the pilots moments before the collision occurred, as revealed by audio recordings from the FAA. The preliminary findings by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) suggested that the planes should not have been in close proximity.
The tragic incident not only claimed Len Root’s life but also those of Terry Baker, Curt Rowe, Kevin Michels, Dan Ragan, and Craig Hutain. Videos circulating on social media captured the horrifying moment when the fighter plane collided with the bomber, resulting in a devastating crash and a massive explosion.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB are conducting investigations to determine the exact cause of the collision. The absence of an altitude advisory plan for the pilots before the show was highlighted in the preliminary report, though the definitive cause remains unknown.
As the legal process unfolds, the focus remains on seeking answers and holding those responsible accountable for the tragedy. The loss of Len Root and the other victims has prompted a search for the truth, driven by the need for justice in the wake of this devastating accident.