“Wisely, and slow. They stumble that run fast.” –William Shakespeare

Who is responsible for aircraft defects?

From driving a car to riding a bike, all modern methods of transportation rely on specialised systems that must work together perfectly. A tire blowout or sudden brake failure can cause significant injuries to passengers on the ground, but unfortunately these components can also fail at 30,000 feet. It only takes one defect – a short in a wire, a rusted screw, a broken latch – to cause a debilitating or even fatal aviation injury. A component on a plane may be unsafe by design or simply have suffered too much wear and tear, leading to a sudden failure that can injure several travellers onboard. Air travel providers are required to make sure that their aircrafts are reasonably safe for all different kinds of passengers. Aviation laws require each party in the air travel process – including pilots, manufacturers, mechanics, and maintenance crews – to make regular inspections of all of their planes to identify any potential points of failure. If a passenger is injured as a result of faulty equipment, he or she may be owed compensation from: first, the commercial airline which can be held liable for the injuries that result due to an overloaded plane, a pilot’s failure to warn passengers of weather conditions that could increase turbulence, an inspector who cleared an old or outdated plane for service, or mistakes made by an air traffic controller. Second, parts manufacturers who can be held liable for injuries caused by a defective design, failure to disclose potential problems, or defects that occurred during the assembly of the plane. Third, maintenance crews who can be sued for any injuries caused by lax inspections or shoddy workmanship. It is vital for passengers to learn about their aviation safety rights and in case of an accident, collect compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering.

Aiman Elahi,
Karachi.

Things to remember as lockdown ends

As the lockdown restrictions begin to be lifted around the world, we must not forget that the deadly corona virus still exists. I know that life will look different when cities and states reopen as local leaders attempt to restart the economy while trying to keep a second wave of corona virus infections at bay. As we count down the days until you can hug your friends, throw a party, file into a stadium and board an airplane, just remember that even as some restrictions loosen, that there's still much we don't know about the long-term behaviour of this particular corona virus strain. In countries and cities that are beginning to reopen, the warning is clear: if cases surge again, the lockdowns will return. Reopening society may be a little different everywhere, but here are some common-sense codes to keep in mind. First, don't toss out those face masks. Second, don't go to the gym without a plan. Gyms and fitness centers are part of early phase reopening in some spots, but think before you grab your water bottle and lace up your shoes. You'll have to decide if you think it's safe to return so soon. Enclosed areas where people breathe the same recirculated air for long periods of time are especially high risk, and that's what gyms are. Third, don't stop washing your hands. Hopefully, the good hand-washing habits you've acquired during the lockdown will stick around, including longer, more thorough washing with hand soap, and more frequently after coming into contact with people and common surfaces. Fourth, don’t throw a party or any event with big gatherings. Fifth, don’t get too comfortable. If precautionary measures aren’t taken, there can be a surge of new cases. So, the smart thing to do is remain cautiously optimistic about regaining your freedom to move, but remain realistic that we don't know what the future holds.

Harris Iftikhar,
Lahore.