On March 3, 2023, former Clinton and Obama Administration official Dana Hyde was fatally injured when the private jet she was traveling on encountered severe turbulence. The flight was traveling from Keene, New Hampshire to Leesburg, Virginia when it was abruptly interrupted by violent turbulence that reportedly threw all passengers throughout the cabin. The private jet made an emergency landing at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut where an ambulance was waiting. Dana Hyde was rushed to a hospital in Hartford where she later succumbed to her injuries. She was 55 years old.
The jet was privately owned by Conexon, a consulting company where Hyde’s husband, Jonathan Chambers, is a partner. Hyde was on a trip with Chambers and one of her sons visiting schools in the Northeast when the fatal incident occurred.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident, which may involve trim and horizontal stabilizer issues with the Bombardier BD-100-1A10 plane, also called the Challenger 300 or Challenger 350. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an airworthiness directive for the Bombardier plane last year after several incidents that involved the horizontal stabler.
“If the trim system was a factor in this incident, as the NTSB has suggested, this case could involve product liability or negligent maintenance, among other issues,” says aviation attorney Timothy A. Loranger. “At this early stage of the investigation, it is concerning that officials are zeroing in on aircraft stability as a potential factor in this accident.”
About Dana Hyde
Dana Hyde served under the Clinton Administration and Obama Administration. She acted on the 9/11 Commission, formerly called the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. For her extensive legal experience, she was also called upon to serve as a special assistant to the President and the Deputy U.S. General for various cabinet affairs and policy advisement sessions.
Dana has been described as “generous” and “brilliant” by her colleagues. She will be sorely missed by her family and everyone who worked with her.
What Caused the Fatal Bombardier Jet Turbulence?
At this time, it is unclear what caused the abrupt and fatal turbulence aboard the Bombardier jet that was en route to Virginia. The NTSB has announced that it will likely release a preliminary report to the public near the end of March. Attorney Loranger and others of Wisner Baum are highly anticipating this report and what it might uncover.
Investigators have said they are focusing on a potential issue with the jet’s trim, which can cause the nose of the plane to plummet downward during an ascent. An FAA directive last year required pilots flying the BD-100-1A10 to conduct different and improved preflight checks of the pitch trim due to this suspected risk.
The manufacturer, Bombardier, issued a statement offering condolences to Dana Hyde’s family but also said, “We stand behind our aircraft […]”
Aviation Accident Team with a Successful History
The aviation accident attorneys at Wisner Baum have a long track record of success in highly complex aviation accident claims and lawsuits. We have decades of experience in aviation accident litigation, including cases involving private jet turbulence. Our track record of success includes significant legal victories against large corporations and manufacturers.
Some of our largest victories in aviation accident lawsuits are:
- $17,500,000 settlement for the death of a passenger in a major U.S. plane crash.
- $14,000,000 settlement for the death of a passenger in a major U.S. plane crash.
- $12,000,000 settlement for an injured passenger in a helicopter crash.
- $10,000,000 settlement for the death of a passenger in a major foreign plane crash.
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