Foam-suppression Prompts Damage Lawsuit

An indication of how expensive repairs are for a business jet caught in the output of a foam-based fire-suppression system can be found in a complaint Cessna Aircraft filed against Arinc. The lawsuit, filed on October 27, resulted from an incident that befell a Cessna-owned Citation X undergoing modifications at an Arinc facility at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. According to the complaint, “On the evening of Dec. 30, 2005, the aircraft, while secured in the Arinc facilities in the defendant’s exclusive custody and control, was damaged by a release of fire suppression foam.” According to plaintiff Cessna, defendant Arinc was unable to deliver the aircraft after the foam incident and Cessna had to spend $226,418.11 “to refurbish the aircraft.” In the lawsuit, Cessna asks to be repaid the cost to refurbish the Citation X as well as “additional money damages to be proved at trial, prejudgment interest” and attorney’s fees.