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Law prof sues Boeing, alleges toxic fumes…
Aviation & Space Law
Law prof sues Boeing, alleges toxic fumes inhaled on flight
December 12, 2025, 9:10 am CST
A law professor is suing Boeing for $40 million, alleging that exposure to toxic fumes on a 737 operated by Delta Air Lines last August led to his lasting brain and respiratory injuries. (Image from Shutterstock)
A law professor is suing Boeing for $40 million, alleging that exposure to toxic fumes on a 737 operated by Delta Air Lines last August led to his lasting brain and respiratory injuries, according to the Wall Street Journal.
After a flight from Atlanta landed in Los Angeles, a dirty sock-like odor filled the cabin, worsening as the plane waited 45 minutes for an available gate, according to the article. Jonathan Harris, a Loyola Law School associate professor at the time of the flight, alleges he had trouble breathing then vomited into a plastic bag while sitting in the plane, but has experienced lingering issues such as balance and motor skill troubles, tremors, memory loss and cognitive defects, according to the story.
The suit, filed last week in Arlington, Va, is the latest to allege that exposure to vaporized engine oils during a flight has led to long-term illness, the story says. Harris’ lawyer says the case is the first on this topic led by a passenger on a U.S. commercial flight and it underscores the airline industry’s potential legal liability as it faces a surge in cases of fume events in recent years, according to the report.
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