Passengers Sue Continental After Firey Flight

HOUSTON -- Two passengers filed a lawsuit against Continental Airlines for what they experienced on Flight 1404 when the plane caught fire and skidded off a Denver runway, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

In the suit, the plaintiffs called the pilots' actions into question, saying there was negligence on the part of both pilots.

Mellissa Craft was one of the 110 passengers on Continental Flight 1404 on Dec. 20 when it veered off a Denver runway and across open, snowy fields before it came to a halt and caught fire. The flight was headed to Houston.

"I heard a boom, felt a bump, which is not normal," she said.

Thirty-eight passengers were injured. Craft said she is suffering back pain and that it is hard for her to walk into places with loud noises.

"It's very emotional. It takes you back to relive it every day -- the screaming of, 'Oh my God, we're gonna die,'" she said.

Craft and another woman from Pearland are suing the airline and the two pilots from the flight.

"The pilots were negligent that day when they aborted takeoff," said Jason Gibson, Craft's attorney. The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the cause of the crash. One of the questions still up in the air is why the pilots aborted takeoff 45 seconds into their takeoff routine.

A dollar amount is not listed on the civil lawsuit. Instead, it includes a list of things they want compensated.

"To make sure that everyone gets the medical treatment they need. They get their wages paid for if they lost time out of work. They get the full value of their property, and also to make sure they get the psychological counseling they need," Gibson said.

An avid softball player, Craft said she's worried her injuries will prevent her from doing what she loves.

"Not being able to do that is very hard because that's my enjoyment in life," she said.

Continental said it is offering passengers $3,000 to $5,000 to replace their property. The company also released the following statement regarding the lawsuit.

"Continental is continuing to focus on providing assistance to the passengers and crew of flight 1404. We are also continuing to participate in the NTSB investigation, and this process is likely to continue for months. Since the facts of the accident are still being investigated, the allegations are premature. We’re prepared to defend the company’s actions and those of our crew."