A giant pothole tore through a private plane’s landing gear during takeoff, sparking a mega disaster and a bombshell new legal case.
A private plane belonging to the Ohio-based firm Capital City Jet Center was stopped in its tracks in May of 2024, shortly after heading for a take-off from New Mexico’s Santa Fe Regional Airport.
The jet sustained significant damage to the landing gear due to the unrepaired pothole on the runway, as per a new lawsuit filed in August, which was obtained by local media outlets.
The company’s airplane was a 2006 Cessna Citation Jet that happened to be mid-takeoff when it rammed into a mega pothole. This led to serious destruction of the left main landing gear and serious damage to the wing and associated aircraft systems. Staffers aboard that plane returned it to the operator Signature Aviation, and the filing alleged how the pilot and Airport Operations Manager inspected the damage at the port.
The case further alleged how the pothole had violated the airport’s requirements under the FAA regarding safety as well as hazard mitigation, adding how this leaves the city liable. The company is now seeking damages worth more than $1 million in lost revenue as well as an insurance deductible worth $50k.