This case involves a child who suffered severe neurological damage from inhaling toxic fumes that entered an aircraft cabin on a commercial flight from Chicago to Seattle. The air used to pressurize the aircraft cabin of the plane was redirected from the engines. Because of a maintenance issue, an engine leak escaped through a broken seal causing toxic fumes to be released into the cabin. The child is unable to perform basic tasks at the same level she did before exposure to the toxic fumes. An aerospace engineering expert was sought to speak to the proper steps and airline should take to fix and report this issue.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. Please briefly describe your experience with the engineering of airplane motors.
2. Are you familiar with this issue?
Expert Witness Response E-101757
I am an assistant professor of mechanical engineering technology with industrial, academic, and research experience related to air quality and air cooling technologies in buildings and aircraft. I received my Ph.D. in mechanical engineering with a focus on air quality investigation inside aircraft cabins. My doctoral research specifically investigated ways to improve the air quality inside a wide-body jet aircraft cabin mockup. There is a plethora of monitoring equipment that can help identify the level of certain TCPs and alert the controller.I have published 5 articles related to airplane cabin air quality and its controlling variables. I have investigated the quality of air supplied to the airplane, which we call bleed air. I am very familiar with the process of TCP and how it can be transferred into the airplane, passenger, and pilot cabins. There have been many studies and reports published showing the various exposures to TCP and other chemicals and contaminations, but no solutions have been proposed besides increasing the flow rate circulation inside the aircraft and increasing the fresh air. I have been involved in federal aviation projects and reviewed data bases for similar cases.
About the author
Victoria Negron
Victoria Negron has extensive experience in journalism and thought leadership in the legal space, with a background crafting content, whitepapers, webinars, and current event articles pertaining to the role of expert witnesses in complex litigation matters. She is a skilled professional specializing in B2B product marketing and content marketing. Currently, she serves as an Enterprise Product Marketing Manager at Postman, and previously held the position of Technical Product Marketing Manager at Palantir Technologies, where she developed her skills in launch strategies, go-to-market strategy, and competitive analysis.
Her expertise in content marketing was further refined during her tenure at the Expert Institute, where she progressed from a Marketing Writer to Senior Content Marketing Manager, and eventually to Associate Director of Content & Product Marketing. In these roles, she honed her abilities in digital marketing, SEO, content strategy, and thought leadership.
Educationally, Victoria holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida - Warrington College of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Art, and Hispanic Studies from Hamilton College. Her diverse educational background and professional experience have equipped her with a robust skill set in product marketing, content development, and strategic marketing initiatives.
