Passenger sues Alaska Air, alleges hearing loss

A Colorado woman filed a federal lawsuit against Seattle-based Alaska Airlines Inc., alleging she suffered permanent hearing loss and trauma when Alaska Airlines Flight 63 suffered mechanical problems and a loss of cabin pressure.

The plaintiff, Gayle Pickard, alleged that between 30 and 60 minutes into the Aug. 15, 2006, flight, the pilot of the 737 from Seattle to Sitka, Alaska, said that he could not pressurize the cabin and that the plane was experiencing other mechanical problems. The flight returned to Sea-Tac Airport, where it made an emergency landing, according to the suit filed Tuesday.

The accident "was not an isolated incident," the suit alleges, citing at least six similar pressurization problems in 2006 on Alaska Airlines flights.

Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Amanda Bielawski said Thursday that the company hasn't heard about the suit.

"The safety and well-being of our passengers is our highest priority," she said in an e-mail.

This year, the airline has acknowledged seven incidents involving trailing-edge wing flaps' apparent or actual failure to fully extend on its 737s, in each case requiring a precautionary emergency landing. No injuries or property damage has resulted.

The lawsuit doesn't suggest any connection with these incidents.

The Seattle P-I has detailed six of those incidents. Alaska Airlines has acknowledged a seventh incident, involving Flight 18 from Seattle to Orlando, Fla., on March 3.