Health Impacts and FAA Reporting
Ferrel subsequently submitted an ASAP report to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), alerting the agency and her employer to a serious safety concern. She later consulted neurologist Dr. Robert Kaniecki, who likened her exposure to “a football player being hit in the head, but with chemicals.”
The lawsuit alleges Ferrel has been unable to work since the incident, suffering both short- and long-term health effects.
Allegations Against Airbus
The complaint outlines three counts of negligence: negligent design, negligent failure to warn, and failure to ensure crew safety. Ferrel contends that Airbus’ placement of APUs in the rear cone of its aircraft makes planes particularly susceptible to contaminated air events.
The case comes amid alarming reports from the Wall Street Journal, which analyzed over a million FAA and NASA reports, thousands of documents, and more than 100 interviews. Their findings suggest that modern aircraft using “bleed air” systems can allow oil leaks to vaporize under heat, releasing neurotoxins and other chemicals.
Passengers and crew have reported smells likened to “wet dog,” “Cheetos,” and “nail polish,” sometimes triggering emergency landings. While occasional exposure may not be immediately toxic, prolonged inhalation can lead to serious health effects.
