April 16, 2010

Motley Rice member Mary Schiavo comments on air traffic disruption due to volcanic eruption

Motley Rice attorney and former Department of Transportation Inspector General Mary Schiavo discusses the serious dangers of flying through volcanic ash in response to the recent eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano that has shut down European airports and trapped thousands of passengers whose flights have been cancelled. Schiavo says that the components of volcanic ash are much like those used in glass-making and can become molten onto a plane engine, resulting in that engine ultimately shutting down.

The Eyjafjallajokull volcano, located about 75 miles east of Reykjavik, erupted on March 20, 2010 after being dormant for nearly 200 years and erupted again on Wednesday, April 14, 2010. This second eruption was 10 to 20 times more powerful and has blanketed Iceland and the surrounding skies with thick plumes of volcanic ash and smoke.

Read more about how Motley Rice attorneys work to protect the safety of the traveling public.