Yes. Multiple parties, including airlines, manufacturers and maintenance crews, can be jointly held liable for a plane crash. Because aviation accidents involve state personal injury and federal aviation regulation, determining liability becomes more complex and may involve several parties’ responsibilities, contributing to the crash. Some of the common parties involved are:

• Airlines or Aircraft Operators: Airlines may be liable if the crash is caused by pilot error, inadequate training, unsafe operational practices or failure to follow Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. 

• Aircraft Manufacturers: If the accident was caused by a design defect, manufacturing flaw or faulty aircraft component or parts, the manufacturer may be liable under product liability laws. 

• Maintenance Crews: Third-party contractors or internal teams can be liable if the aircraft was improperly inspected, repaired or maintained. 

• Component Manufacturers: Supplier of specific parts may share liability. 

Air Traffic Control: In some cases, air traffic controllers or aviation authorities may share liability if incorrect instructions or miscommunication contributed to the crash.

Airplane accident claims in Wisconsin and throughout the US are governed by international laws like the Montreal Convention only if the flight is considered international. 

International Flights: If the accident involves an international flight between countries that are signatories to the Montreal Convention, the claim is governed by the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that establishes airline liability rules for passenger injury or death during international air travel. According to this rule, 

• Airlines are liable for passenger injuries up to a specific compensation limit. 
• Claims may be filed in several jurisdictions, including the residence of the passenger and the airline’s region of business. 
• The treaty imposes a two-year deadline to file a claim 

Domestic Flights: If the accident occurs in a domestic flight within the USA, the Montreal Convention does not apply. Claims are governed by:

• US Federal Aviation regulations
• Wisconsin state tort laws

It depends on whether the flight was international or domestic. For international flights governed by the Montreal Convention, which rules air liability for passenger injury or death. Under this treaty:

• Airlines are strictly liable for damages up to 128,821 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) (roughly $170,000–$180,000 USD, depending on exchange rates), regardless of fault, with unlimited liability for proven negligence. 
• If the damages exceed that amount, the airline may still be liable for additional compensation unless it proves the accident was not due to negligence.

For domestic aviation accidents within the United States, there is generally no statutory cap on compensation for personal injury or wrongful death claims against airlines or responsible parties. Victims may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain & suffering, emotional distress and other damages. 

Aviation accident investigation in the United States can take several months to years, depending on the complexity of the case. Most investigation is led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), along with the assistance of the Federal Aviation Administration  (FAA) and other aviation authorities. 

Yes, passengers or their families can sue for air crashes occurring in foreign countries, governed by the Montreal Convention 1999. Under this treaty, passengers can file a lawsuit in one of the several jurisdictions, including:

• The country where the airline is headquartered
• The country where the airline ticket was purchased
• The final destination of the flight
• The passenger’s country of permanent address (under certain conditions)

Families in wrongful death aviation claims are presented by personal injury or aviation accident lawyers who are experienced in complex litigation against airlines, manufacturers or maintenance providers. These attorneys represent the deceased person and eligible family members, such as a spouse, children, or other legal beneficiaries. Their role is to investigate the crash, identify responsible parties, and seek fair compensation on behalf of the family.