Ohh.. yah, the pilot could SEE that sudden turbulence. Any chance the severely anguished weren't wearing a seat belt? If they weren't wearing one, they shouldn't of gotten $5,000, they should of been sent to the local DMV driver training to watch those videos on what happens to someone who's not wearing a seat-belt does to a human body. Matthew On Thursday, March 13, 2003, at 07:40 AM, damiross2@xxxxxxxxx wrote: > From Washington Times > > Airline Ordered to Pay for Turbulence > > > > > DETROIT (AP) -- A jury has awarded three Spirit Airlines passengers > $5,000 each > for anguish they suffered when one of the company's jets took a sudden > plunge > in severe turbulence. > > The decision Wednesday disappointed the passengers, Carolyn and > William Conroy, > and Ronald Patterson. Patterson said he turned down $50,000 from the > airline to > settle the case. > > A spokeswoman for the Florida-based airline said Thursday the company > couldn't > comment because of other pending litigation related to the flight. > > The aircraft shook and plunged 4,000 feet during a Jan. 30, 2000 > flight from > Ft. Myers, Fla., to Detroit. The Federal Aviation Administration > suspended the > pilot's license after the incident, and he resigned. > > Spirit's lawyers said turbulence caused the incident, while the > passengers' > lawyer said the pilot wasn't watching what he was doing. > > Advertisement > > > > > The incident prompted more than two dozen lawsuits. Many have been > settled. >